Solar Alpine home warms up via 3-story greenhouse facade

Emanuele Almagioni wanted to build a home in a cold and windy, but very sunny, town high in the Italian Alps that would use the sun to provide all of its heating needs. With winter low temperatures reaching -25°C (-13°F) the home had to be tight enough to hold the heat but exposed enough to capture the sun.
So he built a very tall, thin, 3-story wooden home with an all-glass southern facade for maximum sun exposure and nearly completely closed on the other three sides for maximum insulation.
Besides the benefits of the greenhouse effect of all the glass, he also added phase change material (PCM) in some of the windows to absorb the sun’s warmth during the day and then release it at night. The PCM windows are four layers that include a substance with a low melting temperature which melts as it absorbs heat during the day and at night it releases that warmth as it solidifies.
The home is nearly all wood, using prefab OSB panels for structural support and as interior cladding and locally sourced, untreated larch as exterior cladding. Heating is supplied by the sun’s energy and on the rare days when the sun isn’t shining, there’s a wood-burning stove that also doubles as a stove (though the space is so well-insulated that with 2 hours of burning, the home is usually warm for the day). Almagioni used recycled materials for much of the furniture, in particular, wine boxes for kitchen and bathroom cabinets and bedside tables.
Located in an Aosta Valley Italy village (winter population: 5) at 1750 meters above sea level (5740 square feet), the home mimics the passive solar orientation of the centuries-old homes in the village. Almagioni was inspired by the vernacular architecture here, particularly the ubiquitous porticos which absorb sunlight and protect from the wind.
Studio Albori: www.albori.it/
Phase Change Material in windows: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-c...
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/budg...

[@LucGendrot]

Unrelated to the content but I *love* these sorts of bilingual conversations. One party understands but doesn't speak much English, and the other party understands but doesn't speak much Italian. As the child of an immigrant this is so often how it goes for me, and it makes me feel so much better about my language ability that these sorts of conversations can still happen :)

[@giovannigentile7211]

In a way I liked the way it goes in this video, but as an adoptive Italian, that knows that Valle d’Aosta should at the minimum obliged to be bilingual, if not three-lingual, French, Italian and limited to some towns [the Walser] like Saint Jean, Issime, Gressoney where they teach also German, I feel a little ashamed…….not proud…sorry!

[@marianacaffaro]

I also loved it, I speak Spanish (mother tongue), English (I'm an English teacher and married to an English man) and Italian, cause I lived a year in Piemonte

[@benbrown8258]

I'm sitting in my tiny house. The heat pump is set to 68.0 F, but with sunlight shining through the "solar glass" the thermal mass in my floor the floor is 74.5 F. The heat pump doesn't need to come on. (...away from the house, the sidewalk is 38.0 F.) Looking at new construction in my city, the idea of passive energy or capitalizing on easy solar seems incompatible with the understanding of being an architect. What Emanuele has developed would seem so unbelievable to builders here they would subconsciously forget it and deny to clients it was even possible. The only hope I see is when people and corporations planning new construction or even retrofitting existing buildings demand energy efficiency and reject claims it isn't feasible. It took me more than 12 years and some negotiation and some hidden allies to get my tiny home built using many concepts I pondered over the years. Still, as my cutting edge building partner/sponsor said, there are almost no local builders that want to seriously look at building upon passive building design principles. If our children are to have any choice to survive on this planet people must become assertively proactive and respectfully not accept status quo.

[@MBMCincy63]

I agree with you. We need to be a bit "Paleo" in our ancestors knowledge. They survived, using things like passive heat. Thanks.

[@ZeoCyberG]

Maybe have Kirsten do a video on your home, also the Build show network, and as it's a tiny house, Tiny House Talk, Tiny House Expedition, Big Living In A Tiny House, and Tiny House Giant Journey are the most popular to get the most coverage...

[@Erin-rg3dw]

I like the "paleo" idea lol. Funny enough, even in the 1950s, homes were built much more passive than now. Adobe, for example, gathers heat during the day and releases it at night in the winter, and in summer keeps the interior cool. It's still very common as a home style in the American SW. Globally, if you look around to how the oldest buildings were built, they were very conscious of heat and cooling because the fuel needed (usually wood) had to be harvested and brought in. You couldn't just change the thermostat. Part of the reason homes aren't designed for it now is that the methods of building passive homes are frequently longer, so it's harder to build a neighborhood and sell it quickly. Homes now are built to be as big as people will buy and use HVAC instead of other methods. People value convenience and space over practicality.

[@josedacunhafilho]

What a beautiful delivery of this, most beautiful of all languages.

[@lemondrizzlecake7766]

Knowing Valle D'Aosta, I am amazed they managed to build this, considering how stringent the building legislation in the region is. Beautiful house!

[@corradodefrancesco6807]

Living in Aosta Valley I had already seen (and admired) this house: just great! Thanks a lot for the video: I was really curious to know how was the interior. Congratulations to the owners for explaining all the details of the construction. Chapeau to Kirsten for her wonderful videos!

[@candyjamaican]

I’m so jealous. You live where I want to vacation!!!!…..I guess many say the same about us in Japan too.

[@noproblem2big337]

@@candyjamaican yes Japan would be a great place to visit...pity your neighbor across the sea is a bully

[@sharkamov]

@@noproblem2big337 You mean 'Uncle Sam', don't you . . .? 😉

[@noproblem2big337]

@@sharkamov...no I meant pooh bear

[@sharkamov]

@@noproblem2big337 You're _still_ talking nonsense . . . 🥱

[@jjauger96]

It breaks my heart to see abandoned villages like this one. I wish there is more we can do to reclaim these. My great grandmother was raised in this region by Nunes, even though being Swiss right over the border. This part of the Alpine world is close at heart💙

[@tyronetripod8536]

it is only local building codes that prevent the old homes from being reclaimed. if you can get the codes relaxed maybe by buying the old ones without mortgages, you may also have to forego insurance for things like fire and earthquakes etc.

[@normanmerrill1241]

I like that house…they built an interesting, homey house that functions…it is fun to say nothing of the view…thanks…be safe..

[@tinekejoldersma]

Just fine for the two of them, the kids don't live at home anymore and only visit, perhaps for skiing, I guess. I love how it came together and the idea behind it. There's always resistance against new things, and tattletales trying to snitch you. The view is to die for

[@lemondrizzlecake7766]

it's a holiday home anyway, not a full time home.

[@tinekejoldersma]

@@lemondrizzlecake7766 Didn't I just write that?

[@lemondrizzlecake7766]

@@tinekejoldersma ... not that I can see? The way I read your comment was the the kids have moved out and thus it's only the parents now. Apologies if I misinterpreted what you meant :)

[@tinekejoldersma]

@@lemondrizzlecake7766 That's okay, I meant that it was a holiday home, the kids just came for skiing, hence the small beds, not used as a permanent residence for them. If you come as a big family there's more space needed, is it?

[@hermyt]

That view of the mountains is beyond beautiful.

[@nopelindoputraperkasa5869]

Nice sharing Vidio my friend ✋ thank for sharing this Vidio 👍 greeting from your Indonesian traditional gold sheeker 🇲🇨✋👍👍

[@mammiemania893]

If one grew up without the luxury of instant heat/ cooling, this structure stands out as a monument of what construction could and should stand - the needs can be had if one were thought filled. Thank you for this video! I quietly weep for the the joy of it.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Well said.

[@padelicious9093]

Kirsten- wow. Just wow. This home and owner are brilliant. I could easily follow along and read the subtitles. There was enough time to still see the rooms. Thank you for making the world a better place with your gift. ✌🏻❤️

[@MBMCincy63]

I second and third that opinion ☺️.

[@alexmc7747]

This house makes wish to live there, no matter the weather outside (and I'm a guy from the sea). Amazing pre-build thinking. Very friendly pround owner. Thanks all of you (thanks to Kirsten too) for all the explanation. Now I'll be able to build one by my own ;).

[@7_v610]

That's a nice construction. Nice to see theory works well in real practice. Enjoy you guys.

[@lorenzo3987]

That PCM glass at 7:58 is so cool!

[@user-qg6qz3ml8w]

I like the way of communication, you speak English but completely understand Italian, and Emanuele understands English but speaks Italian)

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

I love his new home and all the benefits of solar, but nothing has the charm of the old village. It’s a shame those homes can’t be made more practical to heat.❤️

[@ZeoCyberG]

Like they mention earlier in the video, can be but more expensive than building new...

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@ZeoCyberG Yes, that is why it’s a shame.😔

[@Erin-rg3dw]

My guess is if the homes hadn't been abandoned, and therefore less to retrofit and repair, it might be closer. Older homes can be saved for cheaper than new, but not if they need extensive repair or work to bring them up to current code.

[@annakeye]

Charm, unfortunately, will not keep you warm. They have had their time and use and would be better if some of the more delapidated structures be removed and their products recycled, where possible.

[@DoItYourselfDIYAtHome]

This is one of the best houses I have ever seen because of the natural heating in a cold environment.

[@NotAnAngryLesbian]

A have a passive solar home. USDA zone 6B. It uses very little electricity to heat it. Like about $20 month US for 1300 square feet or about 120 square meters.

[@Strylover]

Excellent....I love the combination of engineering/ecological knowledge and the creatvity/recycling/reusability ideas. We need more of this in the world. Thanks for posting.

[@gwho]

for that, we need less regulations and less busybodies clamoring for more regulations. the pitch of the roof is the perfect example. bettersolar and snow falls right off, but noooo, gov says you have to make it arbitrarily worse.

[@priswks6103]

This guy is brilliant! He should start a movement and teach classes on how to build efficient houses using this natural science. Fantastic for the environment and cost efficient. Affordable, smart, and green housing. Hear! Hear!

[@jackstrubbe7608]

Thank you for breaking from the apparent norm. There is so very much right with this house.

[@jotacope]

Dan ganas de ir a vivir allá.

[@w7834]

I am so intrigued with these stone slab roof tiles you've shown recently, like massive dragon scales. That type of roof must last 70 years!

[@registratoreprimo9778]

As long as the rafters hold the roof it will never decay, the slabs are around 4-5 cm thick, and they will not degrade.

[@tyreesetranh4074]

The lòse used to be ubiquitous as roofing throughout the western Alps of Val d'Aosta and Piemonte, but local slate has become so expensive that it's often replaced by tiles (where codes allow), or imported slate has to be used.

[@user-tn7xo7ky9o]

Another educational video from an amazing far way place. I've been researching building a passive home & very much appreciate your videos. Earthships, Michael Reynolds, is still my all time favorite. Living in a greenhouse would b a dream for me. I did really enjoy the house w the cork clad siding. I love my cork floors, warm on feet & reduces noise coming into the house via crawl space & dampening the echo inside u get from hard surface floors. Love to put cork siding on my current home, this town is so noisy

[@agoogleaccount2861]

Its innovation. And scientific progress .. Authorities should respect that

[@donnytucker]

The views from the house ♥

[@JackYourBodTee]

Fantastic work on this video! Congratulations to all of you, including the owner who accomplished building a sustainable project with truly “smart” features working for them. Great seeing your work each time I return, Kirsten and family!

[@ezohn]

amazing and inspiring. thanks for sharing

[@tochimex1748]

Thank you Kirsten for another valuable video .... what amazing views!! And what an amazing sustainable house!!

[@barbaragale6823]

Thank you Kristen for another great video. What a contribution to seed ideas of sustainable living for thousands.

[@emblemcc]

..seeing the OSB all over kinda hurts when all the exterior looks that good... though when you see the house next to it the OSB feels like gold all of the sudden.

[@ric636]

Great result that shakes the mountains! Bravo!!!

[@katiegreene3960]

I wish poor people with a desire to create could get grants and revive these amazing towns.

[@jeanhawken4482]

Fantastic use of natural resources

[@wendyfountain2958]

Love your shows. Thanks, Kirsten, et al

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting and sharing. Very wonderful home. Glad that the owner was able to explain how the house utilized the sun. HVAC system looked very comprehensively thought out too.

[@janettawallace3722]

That is an amazing view of the area. The homes are different. I love the mountains view.

[@MBMCincy63]

Always enjoy the tours. So many amazing people, types of structures. Thank you.

[@watchingvideos2235]

Ah, it's built with SIPs (structural Insulated Panels). I built a house with that. Amazing way to cut down on heating/cooling bills. That combined with radiant heat floors (I've use both water and electric functions in different builds). Heaven.

[@Shorti_PL]

This is the best what u will can find on the youtube and i talk about channel! Thanks Kristen and fam for this!

[@TheFreeRanger.]

A confluence of power saving & heating ideas in one building.

[@jl9678]

Egbon . Passive solar is amazing. I'm building a passive solar house right now. It's beautiful in the winter and brutal in the summer you just have to make sure there is plenty of external shading in the summer other wise the temps will be unbearable

[@TheFreeRanger.]

@@jl9678 You can add retractable sail shades for the summer.

[@adapa22]

Outstanding! Thanks for reaching out to all these interesting projects.

[@paranoidhumanoid]

That PCM glass is pretty fancy stuff!

[@jonothandoeser]

expensive

[@kschleic9053]

@@jonothandoeser do you have a link to where it could be bought?

[@jonothandoeser]

@@kschleic9053 Do you care what area?

[@kschleic9053]

@@jonothandoeser North America preferably

[@AdityaMehendale]

@@jonothandoeser That adjective is worse when applied to energy bills, and the worst when applied to global warming. If PCM is expensive today, it is only so due to a dearth of people adopting it (possibly to fit into the vernacular). The material itself is little more than paraffin wax and certain absorbent minerals sandwiched into a multi-layer glass panel.

[@mijni]

I'm amazed by this house.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

Tramslation is 1900, the century, not the 1990s. 🌻

[@nicolasboullosa]

Our bad, saw that too.

[@joecutro7318]

Fascinating! What a responsible way to live, use the resources of our planet wisely and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. I have travelled near this area and found it breathtaking! Bravissimo ed bellissima! 🇮🇹😊 Buon Natale!

[@dalepointer9414]

WINDOWS WINDOWS THREE FLOORS WINDOWS WINDOWS EVEN SEE THROUGH DOORS THE SUN AND MOON THE WARMTH OF A ROOM LIKE A CRYSTAL LIGHT ILLUMINATING THE NIGHT SCULPTURED HOME STANDING HIGH AND ALONE FREE TO BE FREE LIKE A TALL STANDING TREE

[@Fjordstar]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful, smart and unique findings. Very inspiring, cheers from Austria

[@the_g9456]

This is an amazing home. Genius.

[@jantrewitt4058]

Thanks for another inspiring video. It shows how the "other half" of the world thinks and lives!

[@gy4246]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing :D

[@XylonPH]

Wow! Beautiful!

[@kirstendirksen]

It really is!

[@runecscapeman]

One of the best houses and architects I’ve seen ever

[@debbralehrman5957]

I don't understand why the build codes will not allow for a higher pitch of the roof. I thought it would help keep snow off. As a safety precaution. Unless it is just a "looks" thing.

[@quaintshelter100]

Splendid!!!

[@ludovic9477]

risultato superbo, ben fatto 👍🏻🇨🇵

[@alterego157]

It's a bit cramped but I always appreciate the originals and trying something different. Hats off, sir.

[@hipamccready7253]

This home is gorgeous, in my mind it is by no means pretty as in modern looking home but I love its convention of economics, sensibility of free ' range of the sun shine.' Clever n smart and lets us NOT forget those beautiful views. Millionaire Views at a modest cost I am thinking - worth every hour of this build. Cheers

[@ItalianPrepper]

Great video. I live in Aosta Valley but i didn't know this awesome building. Thank you so much Kristen!

[@markgamble7699]

Beautiful

[@arza44]

Its amazing how we are captivated in old persecution. Visibility versus functionality. Not only when building our homes, but our lives in general.

[@richardcheatham9490]

I've struck it rich lately in discovering Martijn's channel, your photography of his neighbor Johannes' place and now this wonderful region. You and that fine camera and interviewing skill of yours is much anticipated over here in Atlanta. Keep up the fine work.

[@nomeassente]

It may be not the pritiest home, but it is definitely a smart one!! well done!! Complimenti ai proprietari per il coraggio nel costruire una casa fuori dal comune! La bellezza è soggettiva, ma la funzionalità di questa casa supera qualsiasi parametro oggettivo.

[@dr.rev.lindabingham]

Blessings to all!

[@bardicci]

Fascinating!

[@Kofi.86]

Beautiful place

[@ricarquitectura4857]

Stunning! And intelligent! Great work, Kirsten, in bringing us more joy! That neighbor´s house, we call it "outhouse" here, in Portugal. ;-)

[@stevec7272]

Cool house. I used to look at solar plans and follow these technologies in my younger years. I'm surprised they don't have a masonry heater. That seems to be the peak of age old technology and work really well.

[@rmontena4583]

love it! Rich

[@Moksii_]

That's amazing, I know where this building is. It's near a hotel I have been many times. Walked past this house thinking it was quite interesting. Only now I know how interesting it really is

[@davidwilkinson333]

What a beautiful and inspired house! It might not quite fit the vernacular, but it still fits delightfully. Absolute kudos 👍 and thank you so much, Kirsten for bring it to us 😊

[@eadamic17]

"We did it anyway, and they caught us" lmao. This house is fantastic.

[@BCruise-rs9xy]

Beautiful ❤️

[@madelonmarshall1726]

another rich home...so interesting

[@FabiusMaximus1000]

Not my first choice for building materials but the view can't be beaten.

[@kenwilliams4086]

This is an awesome house, l'd like to incorporate more of the houses design features into more of the houses I design in the state. I wonder where I can source the 4 pane thermal storage windows.

[@geomonabe]

Such a beautifully Shot video

[@nicolasboullosa]

Thanks Geo!

[@valentinabaroncini2622]

Bellissima, complimenti!

[@IntrepidgrlVentures]

Smart, Prudent Design. Would Love to Stay in this House 1 Winter /Spring

[@eric99vigne]

Très bien votre maison 👍

[@paulchance7948]

Hope this man inspires lots of people in similar climactic situations to build in the same way

[@BurdjaTrickster]

Отличный проект!

[@gerry343]

I love the house and the philosophy behind it. Although it is quite different to the surrounding houses, it looks far better than the Romanian cabin next door. That just looks like a large garden shed or garage.

[@jl9678]

I disagree. That "shed" is ultimately beautiful. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and that shed is elegantly simple and even invokes mid century architecture

[@teliph3U]

They had some great ideas and it looks really cozy. But I am not a huge fan of the bare OSB walls. Some different color maybe or veneer would complement the beams and the nice wooden windows but OSB looks just cheap.

[@lindahind2205]

@omega: I always thought that OSB was put together with toxic glues….perhaps that has changed? I’d rather see it covered too. Stay well!

[@sidilicious11]

@@lindahind2205 hopefully they sealed it.

[@giovannigentile7211]

Thank you for your fascinating work, I tough something was moving in our crazy, lazy country 🇮🇹

[@jeanpaulsilve5564]

bravissimo 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@kellyjenkins1237]

She is amazing

[@yitaojin9906]

use PCM storage heating and cold energy is very smart, we even use in the floor heating to save hating bills, depends on where and how much to put on your building envelope and which temp you like to use. really smart building

[@stlouisix3]

Blimey, well done to him on building that house👏🏻 We should've visited it when we were 25 miles from there but I'd no idea this house existed😂😄

[@LaineyBug2020]

I like that little school chair to sit and take your shoes off!

[@joseporioljordanatorrens2590]

una casa preciosa.

[@alansolomon5527]

Even though this was on a budget when it was built this house came out great. Lots of useful information in this video. I like it for a couple of reasons but mostly because it is energy efficient and it does not look like other homes. I am curious however if this type of construction will hold up in an earthquake? Also, what is the maximum wind speed it will take? With all those mountains around I would think they have earthquakes and down drafts?

[@RachelSchell]

I want to buy one of those abandoned houses in the city!!

[@shaystern2453]

fine drone footage

[@karlbe8414]

I am surprised by the use of compact fluorescents! Brilliant house and use of repurposed material. Just get some LED's!

[@dannyhughes4889]

Magnificent.

[@sun1one1]

Balloon framing + exposed OSB = major fire risk. This place would go up like a torch.

[@hannathompson7998]

So cool

[@harperwelch5147]

Very fun house. Interesting exoskeleton. There’s something unsettling about how the house sits on the ground. It needs a more solid looking foundation. Maybe rocks? The deck feels a bit detached rather than well integrated to the house.