GreenA Consultants - La Maison Verte

La Maison Verte, an 8-storey building in Kigali, Rwanda with two basements and roof is targeted to be the first building in the country to achieve Net Zero Energy status by using both passive and active design strategies.

Voids are added to the porosity of the building to allow wind movement through the open spaces and daylight into the corridors. The green balcony voids help keep the microclimate cool and the installation of screen onto the building façade reduces direct solar gain and keeps interior spaces cool and thermally comfortable. The exterior surfaces will also be coated with high solar reflectivity paints to help mitigate urban heat island effect.

As part of sustainable construction, metal deck slabs are used to reduce the amount of concrete used. Locally available materials and construction practices are also used to reduce embodied energy.

Building Vegetation and Green Roof

Maintaining biodiversity and green spaces, the building's integrated vegetation is a simple and effective way to reduce urban heat island. The green roof helps transform grainy, bare monotonous concrete surfaces into green vegetated roof systems, creating relief and a natural view. Green roofs absorb, evaporate, infiltrate rainwater as well as reduces heat transfer; thus expanding the usefulness of the building.

Green and Blue Spaces

The development will truly be a modern natural haven with the innovation of connecting blue and green spaces. Blue and green spaces help mitigate against future climate change, while minimising environmental degradation and improving the aesthetic and recreational appeal of the development.

Renewable Energy

Together with the implementation of passive strategies such as shading, ventilation, daylighting, orientation, materials paired with active strategies such as efficient lighting, monitoring, and smart controls, the roofs will also be fitted with solar panels to offset 92,160kWh/yr of power and achieve Net-Zero Energy status.