Architecture Profiles

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The FirstLight house channels the essence of the iconic “Kiwi bach” – a focus on recreation, socialisation, and outdoor living. The house utilises simple strategies to minimise energy consumption and maximise solar energy.

An external timber canopy housing the photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters provides an elegant way to integrate solar into the design. The canopy forms part of both the active and passive solar strategy, shading the glazing in summer months and aiding the passive cooling of the PV panels. 

“ FirstLight moves us towards a new architecture and a more sustainable construction, which is at one with the environment. Someday all buildings will be designed this way.”
Tobias Danielmeier - Senior Lecturer. School of Architecture.

Victoria University's School of Architecture has been selected as one of 20 university teams to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 – the only entry, ever, from the southern hemisphere.

The SolarCity Design and Innovation Team has been appointed as the technical solar design advisors to the team from Victoria University.

Update:

We welcome the team back from competing at the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon in Washington DC where they enjoyed fantastic success for their entry, including:

 • Third overall in the competition

 • First in Engineering

 • First Equal in Hot Water and Energy Balance

 • Second for Architecture

 • Third for Market Appeal

The Victoria University team is back in NZ and the First Light house is on the way too. They have made one final newsletter to tie up the project and thank all those people who made the project possible as well as a final video blog which documents their time in the US, including interviews with a few of the students.

 Click here to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1OlSaB_wZk

  To find out more about FirstLight please click on the link:   www.firstlighthouse.ac.nz