A Zero Energy House for and by Frank Gehry

This paper presents an energy concept of set of two residential buildings: a main house and a guest house in Santa Monica, California of total floor area of 836 m² The aim of this concept was to create a built environment with high comfort for users and the lowest possible impact on the environment. The architect and owner of the project Frank Gehry (88), see this as his statement in the discussion on sustainability. A site potential analysis has been performed, which then led to the proposal of optimal systems. For the energy supply a PV, highly efficient reversible heat pump/chiller with heat source/surplus heat sink by closed loop geothermal system as well as evacuated tube thermal collectors have been proposed. To increase internal comfort, movable ventilated internal shades, a wind driven solar chimney supported cross ventilation and an air quality controlled natural ventilation, or a radiant floor conditioning with high cooling and low heating temperatures are used. The concept also includes an individual zone adjustment possibility by gravity wall systems. To optimize the whole system, a set of simulations and mock-up tests has been carried out. The results are then compared in this paper with the measurement results from the occupied building operation and further optimization possibilities are presented.