Architect and Builder May 2021 | Page 72

At the Service of Design , Living Comfort and Nature

CITRA is a Cape Town-based construction company that has developed a high-performance sustainable construction system . Certified by Agrèment South Africa and approved by the NHBRC , the CITRA system allows for almost unlimited design possibilities , a human-centred and organic approach .

Dealing with the challenges of climate change , we are at the beginning of a new age , with the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution and green energy . And at the heart of CITRA , there ’ s a strong belief that technology is the key to the social and environmental issues related to housing . It ’ s focused on lowering the cost of construction , achieving energy efficiency , reducing the environmental footprint and meeting the highest standards of aesthetics , health and wellbeing . This is what CITRA calls ‘ Live Different ’.

House Mahika The client has a great interest in the relationship with the natural environment . Due to this , CITRA designed the house on the Whale Coast of South Africa slightly set back from the street and elevated above the road level . The shape blends into the landscape of the mountains and the natural fynbos vegetation .
With the CITRA system , each component is integrated into each other , mixing interiors and exteriors and unifying the human habitat with nature . Through the unlimited design possibilities of the CITRA system , this design was possible without increasing the cost of construction .
The CITRA system ’ s thermal insulation properties are outstanding . Without joints or overlaps , the seamless structure eliminates thermal bridges . It has an R-value of 2.2m ² K / W , over three times more efficient than a standard cavity wall ( 0.63m ² K / W ). This accomplishes ideal interior temperatures , minimises energy consumption , reducing carbon emissions and running costs . House Mahika is a demonstration of the synergy that CITRA archives between design and ecology : a harmonic , cost-effective and exceptional design .
eHomes CITRA specially designed the eHomes for CentralBlue , a R2-3 billion development with social , economic , and environmental sustainability as the central ethos . The crafted design takes into consideration the growth of a family and has made space for easy expansion .
The eHomes have fresh and minimalist elements with a great character , harmoniously integrating functional elements such as stairs and natural light , giving the home an imposing and original beauty . The developer was particularly surprised to see that the eHomes are selling about 20 % better than comparable conventional houses in the same development .
To create these buildings , CITRA makes use of Parametric Design and Finite Element Modelling , which allows for very precise and highly optimised results in the structure , thermal performance , natural light , and cost optimisation . With unlimited and dynamic geometric volumes , the designs have no limits in the production of large scale developments like CentralBlue .
Thermal insulation is a key element in the environmental impact assessment of any house . The eHomes reduce the energy costs in a home by up to 30 %, and all waste material of the CITRA core system is recycled or upcycled .
CITRA ’ s goal is to achieve reduced energy expenditure and emissions throughout the lifecycle of a building and to build houses with a net positive environmental impact .
Tel : 021 205 1141 Email : info @ citra . co . za Web : www . citra . co . za eHomes
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