Integrated ventilation ensures perfect indoor climate in wooden house

A house that blends seamlessly into the wooded surroundings of Blaricum. This wish, combined with a love of the Alps and all the advantages of wood construction, prompted the construction of an all-wood house.

The residents of the Blaricum log house instantly fell in love with the Austrian construction system developed by engineer Mr. Thoma. His Holz100 concept for 100% consists of solid wood without the addition of glue or other materials and won the Salzburg Innovation Prize in 2000. The design proves that you can achieve a beautiful result with pure raw materials, offering numerous advantages. A Holz100 house is allergy-free. Also notable are the high acoustic, environmental and sustainability performance. The house easily lasts 200 years and is completely vapor-permeable. "That really appealed to us," says the owner. "Vapor-open construction is a proven method used to ensure a long life for moisture-sensitive structures. The idea is that the entire structure breathes, resulting in a healthier way of living than in a concrete home. While this is not scientifically based, it feels right to us. No glue, nor plastic or wood frame construction that is fully insulated and sealed inside. As humans today, we think we can influence everything. But maybe the simplicity of the past was better."

All wooden building materials used in the house have high inertia. As a result, in hot weather, it takes longer for heat to migrate into the house. In addition, in winter, heat is better kept inside.

Ventilation issue

Despite the fact that, according to Mr. Thoma, the wooden structure "regulates its own ventilation" and the supply of fresh air would not be necessary, the homeowners opted for the safe option. After consulting with the construction team, they set out on their own to find a ventilation system that could be integrated without flashy grilles. "The residents were looking for an alternative to traditional systems," says Jeroen Wolters, Area Sales Manager AERO at SIEGENIA Benelux. "Not only because the ductwork for this was difficult to fit into the wooden house, but also because contaminated ducts and heat loss are lurking here. Central heat recovery was also not an option, as this would have meant even more ductwork. SIEGENIA's product range offered a solution, because the ventilation can be realized in the facade or along the windows."

Compact all-in-one unit

Based on residents' requirements, such as integrated ventilation, CO₂-measurement and fresh air supply in each room, SIEGENIA's decentralized AEROMAT VT system was selected. This window fan combines heat recovery, optimum air performance and excellent noise reduction in one compact unit. "In total, we delivered 19 similar units, providing all rooms in the house with a perfect indoor climate completely demand-controlled and cost-efficiently," Wolters said.

Subtly integrated

In collaboration with the architect, the system's black-colored grilles, which were designed according to the client's wishes, were subtly concealed out of sight behind the interior wall cladding. Only a sleek, black stripe is minimally visible, Wolters says. "In the bedroom, the system is concealed invisibly behind the curtains. The AEROMAT VT system is operated manually through a sliding system."

The residents are very proud of their log house and very satisfied with the team collaboration, with the family in a central role. "The consultation with architect, contractor and SIEGENIA was very pleasant. The communication was very smooth. Moreover, the AEROMAT VT was delivered fully customized, with the openings to the left or right of the window. Thanks to various options, we were able to integrate the decentralized units optimally."