Everyone knows that in sport the best team who put in the best performance get the gold medal. The Austrian Passive House Group (APG) has created a team that has provided outstanding achievement. Specialists from Austria have come together to give this top performance just for you.
The Austria House has become an inherent part of the Olympic Games, and for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada APG has built this house using passive house construction techniques.
You are interested in an Austria House? Send a request for more information right away.
The Austrian Passive House Group (APG) incorporates five top companies from Western Austria, working in the fields of energy-efficient construction and passive housing. Each company is successful within its area of the industry, and owing to this the group has enormous know-how, which allows them to produce top-quality, ecologically, efficiently and on schedule.
These five successful companies were brought together by their impressive knowledge and commitment and their constant desire for improvement and innovation.
Three companies from Vorarlberg - Sohm Holzbautechnik, drexel und weiss and the engineering consultant DI Erich Reiner - as well as two companies from Tyrol - OPTIWIN and the advertising partner zweiraum - have joined forces as the APG. With their patent-registered and accredited high-quality products, together they are building Austrian Houses across the world.
The exterior shell of the two-storey Austria House for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, and the outdoor installation is being produced by timber construction company Sohm Holzbautechnik from Alberschwende. The windows are from the Tyrolean window manufacturer OPTIWIN, and the building environment - including the compact aerosmart x² device - is created by drexel und weiss from Wolfurt.
About us
drexel und weiss - energieeffiziente Haustechniksysteme GmbH, based in Wolfurt, Vorarlberg, is a global pioneer in the field of passive house technology. They develop, produce and sell systems for energy-efficient and sustainable building concepts. For them, the contest between ecology and economy can be cancelled out by intelligent solutions.
Reinhard Weiss, with his forward thinking, was one of the initiators of the project that came up with the idea of building the Austria House using passive house technology.
OPTIWIN GmbH, based in Ebbs, Tyrol, was immediately keen on the idea to build the Austria House in compliance with the passive house standard. OPTIWIN makes windows, front doors and window frames for low energy and passive houses. As one of the pioneers in this sector of the building industry the company had previously managed to win many major contracts, and so has valuable experience in this field.
DI Erich Reiner, a legally certified expert in timber construction and structural physics, is the project coordinator for the Austria House of the Winter Olympics 2010 in Canada. For an engineer with such extensive experience and numerous successfully managed projects, taking part in this showcase project was a matter of course.
Sohm-Holzbautechnik GmbH from Alberschwende, Vorarlberg is acting as the main contractor for the Austria House project. Holzbau Sohm works in all fields of timber construction: residential building, public and commercial building, agricultural and special building. Therefore the experts at Holzbau Sohm have given proof of their proficiency in many projects so far, and successfully face new challenges every day.
zweiraum GmbH is in charge of the marketing-related tasks for this project. For zweiraum it is important that this progressive, innovative and ground-breaking project gets the attention it deserves.
Honest quality. In a nutshell.
The APG take their responsibility for economic activity combined with sustainability seriously and so only use natural materials.
The Olympic Games is the venue for top athletes and only the best will take part in these Games. Inspired by this high standard, we are building high-quality and long-lasting Austrian Houses everywhere by combining three quality products.
The noticeable difference compared with "normal" passive houses is the higher standard achieved due to the highest quality solid wood construction and the flawless DD-DiagonalDübelholz® (DD DiagonalDowel) system used. Furthermore ecological passive house windows and doors, made from wood with natural and renewable insulating materials, such as cork or sheep's wool, are used for these houses. The key to each APG house is the high-quality, energy-efficient building technique, which helps to provide a comfortable climate and fresh air.
All these components are put together and brought to perfection by expert engineering work. The day-to-day management is carried out by a competent main contractor - so the home of your dreams will become reality through the work of professionals. It is important for us that you are happy, from the initial planning of your home right through to when you move in.
We have a brilliant formula for success we would like to share with you:
Windows
The passive house windows used are made of wood, natural insulation materials and aluminum, and Dr. Feist, a reputed expert on passive houses, has proven the efficiency of these windows. On request we can also offer a solid wood-framed window instead of an aluminum frame. When using conventional windows warm internal air can easily escape – therefore wasting energy. OPTIWIN passive house windows are airtight, so annoying cold air drafts and energy wastage will no longer bother you.
Building technique
The innovative building technique provides constant fresh, filtered air, free of pollen in all rooms - this is not only a treat for people with allergies. Owing to this sophisticated system there also won't be any problems with moisture in the house - therefore a stable and healthy building structure can be guaranteed.
The outstanding feature of this system is its high energy efficiency, which reduces heating costs remarkably. What is so special about this system is the fact that you can hardly hear it - compared to other devices available on the market - and so it won't be bothersome. Maintenance and servicing are no problem due to easy and efficient access.
DiagonalDübelholz® (DiagonalDowel)
It has been known for decades that wood is a sustainable, natural and strong material. However, sometimes "strong" is not strong enough. For this reason we use the patent-registered, first-class innovation of DD DiagonalDübelholz® (DiagonalDowel) for the load-bearing parts of the building. With this technology, ceiling and wall elements made of solid wood can be produced without any chemical, paste or steel compounds. This patent-registered method allows solid wood to be joined with hardwood dowels, which creates a robust linkage with high solidity. Therefore this 100% ecological and solid means of construction, made from renewable wood, can be guaranteed.
With this system the hardwood dowels, inserted diagonally, anchor in a way which means that there are hardly any changes in dimension due to contraction or expansion. The element stays true to size in width, is dimensionally stable and is accurate enough for further processing.
Use of DiagonalDübel® wood is easy - no paste is used, just dowels, which provide the support needed between the wooden walls. This chemical-free method of construction is like a third skin, it is an entirely natural regulator of humidity and warmth.
The excellent characteristics of these three quality components are perfectly harmonized within APG's houses.
Living in an APG house is not only a unique experience but, owing to the perfected technology, also a climatic spa, giving you a particularly healthy sense of well-being. With these ideal surroundings, utter satisfaction is "built-in".
