Full H.O.U.S.E for Saint-Gobain at Ecobuild

Saint-Gobain’s impressive two storey stand at Ecobuild 2010 was packed with innovative solutions for the built environment.  Also on display, the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E proved to be one of the show’s most popular attractions, with a constant stream of visitors queuing to get a glimpse inside.  Constructed almost entirely from materials supplied or approved by Saint-Gobain’s businesses in the UK and Ireland, it provided a live example of the company’s products and systems in practice and was awarded top prize in the 2010 Timber at Ecobuild Award.

The exhibition, which attracted around 41,000 visitors across three days, provided the leading international construction materials company with an ideal platform to highlight the breadth and depth of its capabilities in the UK and Ireland, demonstrating how it is uniquely placed to help customers meet and exceed the latest building regulations to deliver a more sustainable future. 

Saint-Gobain companies British Gypsum, Isover, Weber, Saint-Gobain PAM, Solaglas, Ecophon, Saint-Gobain Abrasives and Saint-Gobain Glass all exhibited together on the stand, showcasing the wide range of new build and residential sector solutions the Group offers across healthcare, education, commercial and residential applications.
The result of months of careful planning and preparation, the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E was hailed as one of the busiest attractions at the show and also received a visit from the Rt. Hon John Healey MP, Minister for Housing and Planning.

Accompanied by Benoit Bazin, Senior Vice President of Saint-Gobain and President of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution, and David Anderson, regional managing director for Saint-Gobain Construction Products, Mr Healey was given a VIP tour by students, who explained the rationale behind the project and their aim to make the H.O.U.S.E as practical, achievable and realistic as possible.
       
Praising the students’ efforts, Mr Healey said: “Their contribution is immense and they’re making this happen in a way that traditional ‘dyed in the wool’ architects and builders perhaps wouldn’t, because they’re thinking afresh, bringing a lot of enthusiasm to the project, and that’s part of the innovation of bright young minds.
“I think it’s priceless, because this is a demonstration of not just ideas, but how they can be put into practice.  This is a family home like many others and students are trying to get away from the idea that top-notch green homes have to be top price, niche products because, in the long term, we have to be building and designing to this sort of standard across the board.”

The H.O.U.S.E was designed by architecture students from the University of Nottingham’s Department of the Built Environment as part of their entry into the first International Solar Decathlon Europe competition to design, build and operate Europe’s most attractive, effective and energy efficient zero carbon solar powered house. 
Offsite construction methods were used to build the modular house at the University’s King’s Meadow Campus before it was transported to Earls Court and reassembled for Ecobuild en route to the Solar Decathlon final, which takes place in Madrid from 18 – 27 June 2010.

The full scale home aims to meet Passive House standards and Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.  Products and systems from Isover, British Gypsum, Solaglas, Saint-Gobain Glass, Ecophon, International Timber, Pasquill and Avancis have all been incorporated, providing comprehensive solutions to meet the stringent requirements.

Commenting on the company’s success at Ecobuild Peter Hindle, general delegate for Saint-Gobain in the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said: “Saint-Gobain and its companies are at the forefront of providing sustainable, highly efficient solutions to the construction industry.  Our presence at Ecobuild 2010 reinforced this offering, demonstrating the wide extent of our innovations and capabilities.”

For more information Saint-Gobain and its companies in the UK, please visit www.saint-gobain.co.uk.  Further details on the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E are available at www.solardecathlon.saint-gobain.co.uk.

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