Doragno Castle - Heating / Cooling / Ventilation

Heating and cooling The new heating system consists of a reversible air-water heat pump powered by the photovoltaic system on the roof. Distribution is made both from radiating floors and fans. The system consists in a Daikin air-water heat pump, Altherma (EMRQ-AB) with low consumption and reduced CO2 emissions as an outdoor unit with an integrated heat recovery system and the indoor unit is the Daikin Altherma Split high temperature. The raised floor (Floortech patent, deltaZERO concept), dry laid and demountable, thus giving a high future flexibility, is composed of two functional layers, one load bearing and the other thermally active: the lower layer, thermo-active, consists of radiant panels of the reversible heating and cooling system. High efficiency heat recovery units for homes with double flow, HR WALL Series by S&P, were also used. Ventilation A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MHVR) was installed which bring fresh air into all habitable areas without letting the heat escape. Stale air contaminated with humidity, toxins and smells is extracted from grilles in toilets and wet rooms. Fresh air is fed directly from outside into the ventilation system recovering the heat taken from the extracted air that is used to warm the fresh filtered air in the heat exchanger and then enters the ducting system previously preheated. All the parts are under the floor, taking advantage of the major works carried out and the execution of an internal insulation. The system starts from the basement, with horizontal ducts, the risers are inserted in the outside walls and then floor distribution boxes whit horizontal pipes.

Heating and Cooling Being a new system, which integrates into the newly constructed building, it does not compromise the existing castle building, there are no compatibility and conservation problems. This private residence building, a historic not-listed building in Ticino, achieved a NZEB target using also solar renewables energy. In this project the architects have re-created the shape of the castle using modern materials considering todays comfort standards and it was chosen to preserve only the medieval walls of the ancient building. New living spaces and with a new internal structure to preserve only the shell of the building joining old and new have allowed to use new and innovative technical solutions. Ventilation The building has undergone many interventions, for example to remove false and non-original parts that distorted the construction, for this reason the interventions have been carried out without particular difficulties if not the usual problems of breaches and cores for the passage of the pipes. In particular, since there were no protection constraints, the interventions were aimed at enhancing the character of the building in its context. The air quality with these appliances is excellent despite reducing internal humidity. Energy efficiency for heat recovery reaches 92%.