- Beautiful and Affordable
- Tailor Made and for All
- Modern and Sustainable
- Beautiful and Affordable
- Tailor Made and for All
The Vision
Contemporary realities of climate change, exhausted natural resources, and economic recession call for a greater attention toward environmental sustainability and affordability. This applies to every field. Our vision is centered around satisfying these needs with respect to housing. We aim to merge different, and sometimes contrasting, features into one unified concept. The ideal home, in our view, must be:
Our Concept
SoftRock - Your Modular Home
Our vision is materialized through SoftRock, a sustainable concept that harmonizes the contrasting needs of a contemporary home. By combining the low cost of standard components with a high degree of personalization, you can build the house of your dreams!
Beautiful and Affordable
SoftRock maximizes your living space by blending with its context rather than conflicting with it. Various materials, shapes, and configurations may be selected according to your taste. The SoftRock home is both beautiful and affordable (40 to 50 percent cheaper and faster than traditional building systems); a timeless architecture, coupled with modern construction techniques, allows for the efficient realization and maintenance of the house.
Tailor Made and For All
The versatility of the SoftRock allows for tailor-made dimensions and configurations. It provides you with various choices not only at the time of purchase but with the passage of time; thus, you may expand or shrink your dwelling at any time. SoftRock also offers a choice between symmetric or asymmetric pitched roofs, a big election of diverse interior spaces and finishing, and a range of sustainable installation systems.
Modern and Sustainable
Thanks to state-of-the-art construction techniques, SoftRock is considerably more efficient than conventional houses in terms of material and energy usage, as well as in construction time. In today’s world, the approach to housing must extend beyond the limitations of urban planning and into nature. SoftRock operates at three levels to ensure sustainability:
- We use recyclable, reusable, durable components.
- We use natural ventilation and advanced insulation methods.
- We plan according to your site conditions to optimize resources.
Your Choice
Three sample models of SoftRock and their expansions are presented here. The particular manner of assembly shown serves merely as a suggestion; it should be kept in mind that there are many more possible ways in which SoftRock can be assembled.
Each model’s name is preceded by “ca’,” an ancient contraction of the Italian word casa (home).
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Ca’ Virginia
At ground floor, Ca’ Virginia offers a generous living space, with an open kitchen/dining area, a large storage room, a washroom and an amply-sized installation room. Two sleeping rooms and a spacious bathroom are located on the first floor. The house can easily be expanded by plugging in additional rooms at ground level and first floor. There is direct access to the outdoor spaces as well as the potential to gaze into the upper floor from the lower level. The garage is an independent space which can be used as a second entrance way to the house.
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Ca’ Luigi
Ca’ Luigi consists of a dynamic balance of closed and open spaces, facilitating a pleasant and unique experience in the house. The only closed area is the service core located at the center of the dwelling. The connecting bridge on the first floor gives the impression of a complete spatial freedom. Dynamic interaction with the outside is possible through the oversized windows.
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Ca' Anna
Ca' Anna is the smallest, most practical, and efficient layout among our three showcase models. This design is ideal for young couples or singles buying their first house. The living and kitchen area is compact, the bathroom is essential, and there is only one bedroom. Additional rooms can be added through the implementation of extra structural portals: the envelop of the house grows and transforms into a genuine family home. From one small house it is possible to build a second unit across the open terrace. A third step can be made by closing off the terrace generating a close green house.
The Process
- Thoughtful Planning
- Efficient Assembly
- Affordable Pricing
- Sustainable Living
Thoughtful Planning
Together with an architect, you can select and personalize each element of the SoftRock. Features to be considered include size, materials, and location.
The main supporting structure can be made of steel, wood, or concrete with each material having its own characteristics, dimensions, and costs.
Each SoftRock project benefits from a suspension system from which the first floor rooms are hung: this maximizes spatial freedom and allows for scenic views. SoftRock comes with the option of small, medium, or large rooms. Each room is built by a highly resistant frame which is sheathed by wall panels. The box-shaped rooms are customizable, both internally and externally. They can be perforated by windows to the outside, doors connecting to the inside and all the required plug-in devises to function independently within the house.
The architects with XCOOP will assist in coordinating and scheduling the construction process between you, the construction company, and the suppliers.
Efficient Assembly
SoftRock components are built in a factory setting, where they are subject to continuous quality control until they are transported to the construction site. SoftRock modules are placed on a pre-made foundation and assembled by a local construction company.
The assembly of SoftRock starts with site preparation and foundation work. Once the various sections are ready, they will be transported to – and assembled at the site.
After the foundation is set, the structural portals are placed. Then the ground floor rooms are installed, followed by the prefabricated staircase leading to the first floor corridor. A temporary light construction supports the first floor rooms while they are being assembled. As soon as the hanging joints are secured to the portals, the rooms on the first floor are hooked to the structure. The temporary construction is removed, and a new house appears in only a few days. The house is now ready for the finishing touch.
Energy-efficient panels and windows will be applied to the exterior structure and the chosen cladding will wrap up the outside facades. The inside finishing will be worked out through paneling, paint, insulation, floor finishing, and plumbing. Depending on your changing needs, the home can grow or shrink with the addition or removal of rooms.
Affordable Pricing
SoftRock prefabricated system offers a considerable price advantage. Each component of the home is built with precision in state-of-the-art facilities. The production process is neither labor-intensive nor resource intensive; making the costs 40-50% lower than traditional building techniques. The SoftRock can be as simple or luxurious as you want. The price of SoftRock typically ranges between €50.000 and €300.000.
Sustainable Living
The effects of climate change are increasingly being felt in The Netherlands and throughout the globe, demanding the attention of governments and even the market. In 2010, in a bid to promote a more energy efficient housing market, the government of The Netherlands tightened the energy efficiency requirements of the country’s housing sector. Other governments around the world are likely to follow, soon. The markets have responded to this increased demand for energy efficiency: homes that do not fulfill these requirements are no longer considered a safe investment.
Energy Performance
SoftRock Sustainable Concept is built in accordance with energy efficient construction methods. Following these guidelines requires a comprehensive toolkit, encompassing shape, material, and insulation.
- Shape: Pitch roofs maximize the surface exposed to the sun, making the most out of its energy. Depending on geographical location, an optimal inclination of the roof is designed to maximize solar energy collection Energy2020.
- Materials: SoftRock uses the SLIM material system, which stands for Fast Light Intelligent & Manufacturable. SLIM makes the construction light and highly insulated. The particular materials and methods used in the SLIM-concept push the Rc-value up to 14 without compromising any functionality nor aesthetics of the house. The SLIM-concept is developed by XCOOP partner Energy2020, a pioneering company in the field of energy efficient homes.
- Insulation: The key to energy efficient housing is insulation. By using appropriate insulation and making the most of sun and wind energy, the house can generate its own energy. SoftRock has CO2-controlled ventilation, and shower systems, with heat recovery, electrically heated glass, and other innovative energy saving solutions. The sustainability plan also includes sun panels and integrated photovoltaic systems.
Using Wood
The energy used in the extraction and production of a material or product is called ‘embodied energy.’ Generally speaking, the higher the embodied energy is, the higher the CO2 emissions will be. Compared to the high emissions and embodied energy of materials like steel, concrete, aluminum and plastic, wood has low embodied energy and, thanks to the carbon sink effect of the forest, it has negative CO2 emissions.
Wood’s natural thermal efficiency means timber systems can be more cost-effective in constructing energy efficient buildings than cement block, brick, or other materials. Moreover, triple-glazed windows can be more easily produced in wood than in other materials, and wood floors provide better thermal insulation than concrete floors. It is especially favored in cold climates where, with careful design and calculated use of insulate materials, low energy consumption can reduce heating costs while providing comfortable living conditions.
How much CO2 can be saved using wood?
A study conducted by the Dutch Energy Research Center shows that the total energy consumption for space heating in a passive house is 75% lower than in an EPC 0.6 new house.
SoftRock will perform even more efficiently than a passive house, thanks to the SLIM-concept developed by our partner Energy2020.
Contact Us
Contact us for more information about SoftRock Sustainable Concept or to schedule a free consultation.
Address
XCOOP
Westblaak 5-11
3012KC Rotterdam
The Netherlands
+31 (0)10 786 37 38
info@xcoop.org
xcoop.org
For more information about XCOOP,
please visit our
website: www.xcoop.org
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2017 SoftRock.
