KEOP-6.2.0/B/11-2013-0006
The Forráspont is a knowledge center which was established by the Active Energy Association. The name „Forráspont” is significant, it means „boiling point” in English. This center aims to make environmentally conscious and energy efficient lifestyle accessible and knowable for everyone, and advocate conception and practice of sustainability through positive examples and practical ideas.
The Forráspont Energy House „found home” in Paks. Its exhibition building serves the presentation of sustainable LIFESTYLE and energy efficient, environmentally friendly building process with exhibitions, conferences and professional events. Besides, the building itself is a symbol of sustainable construction since during the planning process it was a highlighted aim to develop such an architectural-aesthetic appearance that demonstrates the function and ecological mission of the building.
Thanks to the building’s heat insulating shell structure, the Forráspont Energy House in Paks can adapt to weather conditions and it can expand and contract depending on the external temperature. Beside the climate adaptable size regulation, the speciality of the center is the exhibited architectural process that minimizes heat loss while the bulding perfectly utilizes solar energy.
The Forráspont Energy House consists of three parts which have different function and accordingly different building material and structure.
The first part of the building has asymmetric span roof and ferroconcrete structure with adobe walls. It contains permanent exhibitions, office spaces, meetings room, stores and engineering room .
The second part of the building with the temporary exhibition and programme room has the same geometry as the first part, except that it is entirely metal-glass construction.
The third part of the building is the open air terrace in front of the glass hall. In transitional seasons (spring, autumn) the movable shell structure can be shifted over the terrace therefore converts a pleasant opened-covered veranda which can be used as a terrace or a programme room as well. Heating and cooling of the building complex is solved with heat pump and geothermic energy.
The three-fold system embraces traditional Hungarian three-part cottage form as well. The building not only increases considerably energy efficiency but as an exhibition building it has an additional meaning: it demonstrates environmentally friendly and energy saving building and functioning solutions for wide social stratum.