Biosphera Equilibrium: an innovative housing unit clad with Rockpanel

What does the house of the future look like? Biosphera Equilibrium, an innovative housing solution, gives a sneak preview of what it could be like. This traveling passive house prototype may be small, but offers everything you need for a pleasant, healthy and green life. Both ROCKWOOL and Rockpanel products have been used to help obtain the desired result.  

The Italian company Aktivhaus, which creates person-centred, green buildings, started the Biosphera project in 2014. For this project, they work together with researchers, professionals, companies and universities to create mobile, energy efficient residential units in the most innovative, progressive way. 

Throughout the years, Aktivhaus has created several versions of Biosphera. For the 1.0 version, a transportable passive house, the focus was on modularity and the building process. The next step, in the 2.0 version, was to focus on energy efficiency even more. Biosphera Equilibrium is the third version of the housing unit and the objective here was to create optimal well-being for inhabitants.  

With a roadshow throughout different areas in Italy and other European countries, Aktivhaus did not only showcase their project, but was also able to measure the true behaviour of the house in various climate zones, using a network of sensors. 

Although Biosphera Equilibrium is now equipped as a housing module, the possibilities are infinite. It has been designed to adapt to different building uses: from a private home to a classroom, from an office to a healthcare facility. The main focus of Biosphera Equilibrium is to improve people's well-being through the use of new architectural and technological solutions that respond to the principles of biophilia: an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. 

Energy efficiency 

One of Biosphera Equilibrium’s features is the high energy efficiency. The housing module can produce 4 times more energy annually than consumed. Part of the excess energy is stored with new generation 96% recyclable batteries and is used during the roadshow to power a hybrid car through high efficiency charging systems. 

Rockpanel cladding for a striking aesthetic effect 

ROCKWOOL and Rockpanel have actively collaborated on the project since the start of the first experiments for the Biosphera 2.0 module. ROCKWOOL products are used throughout the housing unit, including internal partitions and the roof, proving that they can help provide the perfect indoor climate, whatever the weather. 

The housing unit also has a ventilated facade, in which both ROCKWOOL insulation and Rockpanel exterior cladding is used. As the facade boards are insensitive to moisture, sustainable, light-weight and easy to process, they were highly suitable to be part of the traveling housing module. The cladding was finished with engravings and artistic decorations that recall nature, adding a particularly striking aesthetic effect to Biosphera Equilibrium.