Drylining proves a winner in Oman EcoHouse Competition
Drylining systems from Gyproc Middle East have helped secure winning places for two top collegiate teams in Oman’s first ever EcoHouse Design Competition.
Structured around the very successful US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition, held biennially since 2002, the Oman competition is sponsored by The Research Council of Oman, and has been adapted to acknowledge the region’s unique climatic, social and economic conditions. It challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate eco-friendly houses that are cost-effective, energy efficient and offer the highest level of design excellence and customer appeal.
Gyproc has supported the two winning teams, Oman’s Higher College of Technology, who’s HCT GreenNest Eco House was voted overall winner, and runners-up, GUtech, throughout the design and build phases of the competition.
During the initial concept and design period, Gyproc drylining specialists supported the students with training and lectures on the huge benefits that are currently being achieved worldwide by replacing traditional heavy masonry construction with high performance drylining systems in Ecohouse, PassivHaus and other ultra-low energy constructions.
They then helped the with the specification and detailing of the specific Gyproc systems used, and finally arranged donation of all Gyproc plasterboards, metal studs and associated Gyproc fixing and jointing products needed by the teams to complete the internal partitions throughout their two designs.
Singling out the winning designs from entries submitted by collegiate teams from throughout Oman was down to a highly talented team of judges, who carefully marked each entry against eight key criteria – with both winning designs scoring maximum points in the ‘Energy balance’ category. A live data system will then monitor the energy performance of the homes going forward.
The competition is intended to support innovative thinking skills among Oman’s younger generation and will promote energy conservation and renewable energies whilst preserving the environment – top priorities in the country’s current development plan.
