Architecture

High-end P.A.T.H. prefab house range promises energy to spare

High-end P.A.T.H. prefab house range promises energy to spare
The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range was recently launched by designer Philippe Starck and Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko (Photo: Starck with Riko)
The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range was recently launched by designer Philippe Starck and Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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Depending on which one of the 34 different floor plans prospective buyers choose from, a P.A.T.H. home ranges in size from 40 sq m (1,506 sq ft) to 350 sq m (3,767 sq ft) (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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Depending on which one of the 34 different floor plans prospective buyers choose from, a P.A.T.H. home ranges in size from 40 sq m (1,506 sq ft) to 350 sq m (3,767 sq ft) (Photo: Starck with Riko)
The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range was recently launched by designer Philippe Starck and Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range was recently launched by designer Philippe Starck and Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko (Photo: Starck with Riko)
The homes feature triple-glazed windows which measure a total of 63 mm (2.48 inch) thick, and insulation made from stone wool, glass fiber, or cellulose (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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The homes feature triple-glazed windows which measure a total of 63 mm (2.48 inch) thick, and insulation made from stone wool, glass fiber, or cellulose (Photo: Starck with Riko)
The company states that the Montfort show-home pictured produces 50 percent more energy than it consumes (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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The company states that the Montfort show-home pictured produces 50 percent more energy than it consumes (Photo: Starck with Riko)
P.A.T.H. homes cost around €2,500 – €4,500 per sq m (US$3,166 – $5,700 per sq m), depending on the options chosen (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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P.A.T.H. homes cost around €2,500 – €4,500 per sq m (US$3,166 – $5,700 per sq m), depending on the options chosen (Photo: Starck with Riko)
Other green goodies on offer include a roof-based wind turbine, designed by Starck and developed by a company called Pramac (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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Other green goodies on offer include a roof-based wind turbine, designed by Starck and developed by a company called Pramac (Photo: Starck with Riko)
Optional sustainable additions include a roof-based solar array designed by DualSun and IRFTS (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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Optional sustainable additions include a roof-based solar array designed by DualSun and IRFTS (Photo: Starck with Riko)
Interior layout and furniture can all be configured to suit buyer tastes (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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Interior layout and furniture can all be configured to suit buyer tastes (Photo: Starck with Riko)
A P.A.T.H. home is built to meet the BEPOS energy standard for positive energy buildings, which is backed by the French government (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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A P.A.T.H. home is built to meet the BEPOS energy standard for positive energy buildings, which is backed by the French government (Photo: Starck with Riko)
Once ordered, delivery is promised within six months (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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Once ordered, delivery is promised within six months (Photo: Starck with Riko)
P.A.T.H. homes cost around €2,500 – €4,500 per sq m (US$3,166 – $5,700 per sq m), depending on the options chosen (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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P.A.T.H. homes cost around €2,500 – €4,500 per sq m (US$3,166 – $5,700 per sq m), depending on the options chosen (Photo: Starck with Riko)
The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range was recently launched by designer Philippe Starck and Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko (Photo: Starck with Riko)
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The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range was recently launched by designer Philippe Starck and Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko (Photo: Starck with Riko)
View gallery - 12 images

French designer and architect Philippe Starck has joined forces with Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko to manufacture a new line of high-end prefab houses under the moniker Starck with Riko. The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) range is available in a number of shapes and sizes, and according to the company, can generate significantly more energy than it requires.

Depending on which one of the 34 different floor plans prospective buyers choose from, a P.A.T.H. home can range in size from 40 sq m (1,506 sq ft) to 350 sq m (3,767 sq ft), and feature anywhere between one and eight rooms, spread over one or two floors.

The home can also sport either an all glass outer shell, a combination of wood and glass shell, or fully-wooden shell. Roof type, interior fittings, and cladding can also be further customized to suit, and the sky – or rather the wallet – is the limit. The homes are built to meet the BEPOS energy standard for positive energy buildings, which is backed by the French government.

Interior layout and furniture can all be configured to suit buyer tastes (Photo: Starck with Riko)
Interior layout and furniture can all be configured to suit buyer tastes (Photo: Starck with Riko)

A P.A.T.H. home sports triple-glazed windows measuring a 63 mm (2.48 inch) thick as standard, and features insulation made from stone wool, glass fiber, or cellulose. The amount of insulation is dictated by the area in which the home is to be located.

In the prototype Montfort show-home pictured, an IRFTS-produced Easy Roof solar array is installed. This system comprises 36 DualSun panels, which generate both electricity and heat for hot water, plus 22 standard photovoltaic panels. Altogether, the array generates a rated 11.8 MWh of electricity per year, and provides an estimated 70 percent of all hot water needs. A gas boiler is also on standby.

Additional extras include a roof-based wind turbine, designed by Starck himself and developed by a company called Pramac, that's available in 450 watt and 1000 watt versions. An efficient SPEETA wood-burning stove is also available, as is a rainwater collection and filtration system.

Optional sustainable additions include a roof-based solar array designed by DualSun and IRFTS (Photo: Starck with Riko)
Optional sustainable additions include a roof-based solar array designed by DualSun and IRFTS (Photo: Starck with Riko)

The company states that the Montfort show-home produces up to 50 percent more energy than it consumes, but we've no hard figures on exactly how this number was reached.

P.A.T.H. homes cost around €2,500 – €4,500 per sq m (US$3,166 – $5,700 per sq m), depending on the options chosen. Once ordered, delivery is promised within six months.

Source: Starck with Riko

View gallery - 12 images
3 comments
3 comments
Island Architect
Who doesn't love Philippe Starck?
With his delightful sense of humor, wry solutions few can match him! Steve Jobs Yacht has a stately quality that almost verges upon hilarity and the humor in his designs is most fetching.
This solution is simple and elegant and brings to mind the Farnsworth House, and Philip Johnson's house and other such designs. It's coherent and flexible and joyful.
Place it on a properly designed bed using soap stone for flooring over a crushed limestone base with lots of gaps and it would be exceedingly comfortable and yet very delightful.
The handling of the windows appears to be very special and very handsome.
Fun to hear that Ljubljana is "with it". Bravo! Huge sewer pipe columns with a 32 foot span and you would also have a unique, long lasting, structure 4 columns 1000 sf, 6 columns 2000 sf. Reinforced concrete ledger beams will handle it with flexicore decks. Finally there is a design in Gizmag that has a very intelligent sensibility.
Most of the stuff has been banal.
bill
Don Duncan
Why stop at 70% of hot water needs? That backup boiler would be unnecessary with a little bigger solar heater.
The insulation used is outdated. Foil-backed foam is the only way to go.
YouAre
@ Don Duncan "Foil-backed foam is the only way to go" - incorrect. Your foam doesn't have some good properties that the insulations used for P.A.T.H. do.