Azalea UPV is a multidisciplinary team of 40 students from 15 different degrees that together with researchers, institutions, companies and neighbours work to develop solutions for cities, especially in Valencia (Spain) where the research and development group originates from.
Their goal is innovation in the field of housing, creating projects that will be a reference for the future of architecture and engineering.
To this end, they work within the framework of Solar Decathlon Europe, a competition that allows them both to create proposals that improve neighborhoods as well as learn, experiment and grow as future professionals.
Escalá is the project they have presented this year for the Solar Decathlon Europe and has been the only Spanish project selected to participate in the competition.
This event is the most important international university competition in the field of architecture and engineering that challenges students to design and build innovative, sustainable and highly efficient buildings powered by renewable energies.
The history of this event began in 2002, with the first edition in the United States. In 2010 it was held for the first time in Europe, specifically in Madrid (Spain).
In the Solar Decathlon Europe 2019, held in Hungary, the AZALEA team won 1st prize in Architecture, 2nd prize in Energy Efficiency and 3rd prize in Engineering and Construction with its project of the Barraca.
A typical Valencian building that the students transformed into a much more sustainable and energy efficient space with the introduction of highly innovative techniques and materials.
This year the project carried out was “La Escalá”, an innovative home with a domotic system, water resource recovery and an energy efficiency system called “caloret”.
Recycled and recyclable materials such as HONEXT in this sustainable housing prototype.
A housing design that has opted to use upcycled materials such as HONEXT boards, which has been used into the entire interior lining to control humidity and help thermoregulation.
“We have opted for materials with a long useful life that ensure the possibility of being reused in future projects; 0 km, thus contributing to the reduction of emissions from transport; ecological and obtained from recycling processes, free of any compound harmful to the environment and human health, and that have a high capacity for recycling and reuse” said Sofia Iglesias, also a member of the Azalea UPV team.
The results have also been incredible in this edition. First prize in Innovation and third in both the Architecture and Engineering categories. These students are unstoppable.
A great hope for a more sustainable future for our cities.
