Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Rubner Haus, a well-known subsidiary of the Rubner Group that specialises in prefabricated timber homes, has been nominated for the CasaClima Awards 2025, which is a noteworthy accomplishment for the sustainable construction sector. After being chosen from a field of about 1,500 recognised new construction and renovation proposals, the project, dubbed “Villa ai filari” (Villa by the Rows), won the coveted Public Prize.
The CasaClima Awards, presented by Italy’s independent Agency for Energy and Environment, serve as a gold standard for energy efficiency, comfort, and environmental responsibility in construction. Winning the Audience Award—determined by popular online vote—underscores the project’s powerful appeal to the public, recognising the harmonious blend of modern architectural design with deep ecological sensitivity.
Villa ai Filari: A masterpiece of integrated design
Designed by Architect Daniele Macor of Corilum Collective Brain Studio, the “Villa ai filari” stands as a contemporary testament to what high-performance timber construction can achieve. Built on a former rustic site in the heart of the Venetian pre-Alps, the 270 sq. m. family home is a deliberate architectural response to its breathtaking landscape, framed by rows of Prosecco vineyards and the majestic peaks of the Dolomites.
Solar and scenic orientation: The villa’s design is fundamentally driven by nature. It is south-facing to maximise solar gain and natural light throughout the day, while strategically opening to the north to capture unobstructed views of the Dolomite mountains. This precise orientation minimises the need for artificial lighting and heating.
Timber-frame construction: Constructed entirely using a highly efficient timber-frame structure, the building benefits from wood fiber and cork insulation. These natural materials offer superior thermal performance, excellent breathability, and a significantly lower embodied carbon footprint compared to traditional masonry.
High-performance envelope: The use of wood-aluminium windows ensures exceptional thermal sealing, protecting the interiors from both cold winters and summer heat, a critical feature for achieving CasaClima certification. Exterior finishing materials, including dark sheet metal (aluminum), plaster, and exposed wood, subtly evoke the traditions of Alpine architecture while maintaining a rigorous, contemporary style.
The design is not just efficient; it’s poetic. At the center of the home, a large tree is integrated into the plan, acting as a natural focal point that symbolises protection, shade, and the house’s seamless connection to the earth.
The “Villa ai filari” has achieved the rigorous CasaClima A class certification, a guarantee of extremely high energy efficiency and quality of execution.
The CasaClima standard verifies more than just low energy consumption; it ensures holistic building quality through:
Furthermore, the design incorporates principles of the circular economy. The use of disassemblable components—materials that can be easily separated, recycled, or reused at the end of the building’s lifespan—guarantees a responsible life cycle and demonstrates a commitment to reversibility in construction, setting a model for future green building projects in Italy.
The recognition of a prefabricated timber house like “Villa ai filari” at the national level underscores the growing maturity and acceptance of sustainable timber construction in the Italian construction industry. Rubner Haus, known for its integrated approach from raw material sourcing to turnkey construction, exemplifies how industrial scale and quality assurance can be applied to ecological building principles.
The victory reinforces the broader movement toward reducing the industry’s significant environmental footprint. By using wood as the primary building material, the project effectively sequesters CO2, contributing tangibly to climate goals—a concrete response to the challenges highlighted by the EU’s push for “Green Homes” legislation.
Céline Quervel, CEO of the Rubner Group, has often stressed the importance of marrying technology with natural materials. This award is a “meaningful recognition of our approach: sustainably building with timber, ensuring living comfort and respect for the environment,” the company noted in a statement.
The project is now set to serve as an inspiration for architects, developers, and homeowners alike, proving that energy-efficient, environmentally responsible construction can also deliver breathtaking, quality, and aesthetically rich living spaces integrated seamlessly with their natural surroundings. It solidifies the role of mass timber technologies in driving the next wave of modern and healthy residential construction in Italy.
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Tags: CasaClima Award 2025, Italian construction industry, Rubner Haus, sustainable architecture, timber construction, Villa ai filari
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