A high performance house with a wood-burning fireplace

The project

For the design of this detached house, the architect Giorgio Parise maintained some of the aesthetic features typical of Venetian building tradition, merging them with rigorous modern shapes.

The client manifested the desire to obtain maximum energy performance, taking inspiration from German “Passivhäuser”, with no need for formal certification.

To do this, high performance insulation systems, controlled ventilation systems and solar collectors were installed. The house was positioned in a certain way also due to the need to maximise energy from solar radiation.

The fireplace

Although the building has a low energy demand, an additional heat source was required for use especially in the coldest months of the year, but even in spring and autumn, when sunlight alone is insufficient to reach adequate temperatures. As a result, a renewable energy product was chosen, as specifically requested by the client.

The high-performance wood-burning fireplace was installed in a central position, in the middle of a large open space room. The cladding was obtained from an old solid wood panel, which was restored and waxed.

The heated rooms

The room in which the fireplace is installed is a single free-flowing space, with high ceilings with exposed wooden beams. The modern-style interior features an attractive contrast between the parquet flooring, with a warm cherry finish, and the load-bearing walls, which were intentionally left unfinished.

A small mezzanine with a studio and guest bedroom, which can be seen through the crystal railing, was also obtained in the top part of the attic. The steel flue was purposely left exposed to further exploit the calorific value of the fumes and to effectively heat also the mezzanine area.