Month: July 2025

The most effective solution for summer cooling is a smart combination of a reversible heat pump and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR), complemented by air conditioning during peak heat periods. This setup ensures a stable indoor temperature (around 22–23 °C), even during prolonged heatwaves – without abrupt temperature changes and while maintaining excellent air quality.

Benefits of active and passive cooling

Reversible heat pumps provide both heating and cooling. During summer, the cycle reverses: heat is extracted from the indoor space and transferred outside. This is particularly efficient in timber-glass houses with large glass surfaces that allow significant solar gains.

Benefits of active cooling:

• Precise temperature control
  
  
• Zonal operation (e.g., separate day and night settings)
  
  
• Compatibility with low-temperature underfloor systems
  
  

Passive cooling, on the other hand, utilizes constant ground temperature via a geothermal probe. Cool water circulates through underfloor or wall heating loops without the use of a compressor. This method is quiet and highly energy-efficient, but only up to a certain thermal load.

Passive cooling advantages:

• Extremely low energy consumption
  
  
• Minimal noise and maintenance
  
  
• Ideal for passive or energy-efficient houses
  
  

Note: The supply water temperature should remain above 18 °C to prevent condensation on pipes and surfaces, which could damage materials or create slippery floors.

 

Maintaining comfort with bypass function

MVHR systems prevent hot air from entering while ensuring continuous fresh air supply. Heat exchange between the outgoing and incoming air reduces the cooling system’s load.

Although ventilation alone does not cool, it greatly enhances cooling efficiency when used alongside a heat pump or ground exchanger. It provides a stable indoor climate without cold drafts or that “artificial chill.” Excess moisture is also expelled, preventing mould, furniture damage, or stale air.

Modern systems often feature a bypass function that disables heat recovery. When outdoor temperatures drop at night, cooler air enters directly, bypassing the heat exchanger. This function can be activated manually or automatically.

During hot days, set ventilation to a minimum and use night-time cooling with the bypass feature to reduce indoor heat load naturally.

Is air conditioning still necessary?

While a heat pump and MVHR cover most summer needs, internal temperatures may still rise during peak summer months (July–August). For this reason, we recommend preparing the infrastructure for future AC installation.

Maintaining 22–23 °C is optimal – especially in living and sleeping areas. If outdoor temps exceed 34 °C for several days and nights don’t cool below 20 °C, adding AC becomes necessary.

Why consider AC preparation?

• No interference with the home’s architecture
  
  
• Allows future tech flexibility
  
  
• Can be tailored to the user and location

The power of integration

A well-planned combination of a heat pump and MVHR creates one of the most efficient, complete climate control systems available today. If integrated from the design phase, the components work in harmony – without architectural compromises or retrofitting.

Key advantages:

• Heat pump: provides active or passive heating/cooling
  
  
• MVHR: ensures fresh, filtered air with minimal energy loss
  
  
• Reduced energy consumption and wear on individual components
  
  
• Even temperature distribution throughout the home
  
  
• Consistent humidity and CO₂ control for healthier air
  
  

Smartly designed systems also allow future AC installation – even if not chosen immediately. In extreme summer conditions, air conditioning may become indispensable, making this foresight valuable.

Advanced systems are fully automated. Sensors respond to indoor/outdoor conditions – like heat during the day, cool nights, or weekend absences – adjusting temperature and airflow without manual input.

The result: The heat pump maintains the base temperature, MVHR utilizes cool night air, and AC kicks in only when necessary. This ensures efficiency, comfort, and long-term sustainability.

How to ensure your system performs efficiently?

To ensure comfort during summer, proper maintenance of your heat pump and ventilation system is essential. Regular servicing, cleaning, and correct settings lower energy use and extend equipment lifespan.

Key summer maintenance tips:

• Service your heat pump before the season begins: Check key components, clean filters, inspect the cooling circuit, and calibrate settings. A well-maintained system operates quietly, uses less energy, and performs reliably.
  
  
• Switch to summer mode early: Change from heating to cooling mode and adjust all settings accordingly. Preconfigured profiles can help simplify transitions.
  
  
• Maintain passive cooling water temperature above 18 °C: This prevents condensation on pipes and surfaces, especially in underfloor or wall-based systems.
  
  

Dirty filters reduce airflow and efficiency. Clean or replace them every few months, especially before summer, when demand is high.

 

 

The creative mind behind some of KAGER’s most iconic homes is architect Irina Karlikova. With a refined sense for space, wood, and light, she has helped shape projects that fully explore the architectural potential of the Vita Nova system.

Having worked with KAGER for many years, Irina deeply understands the concept of the visible wooden skeleton and large glass surfaces—an approach that enables architectural freedom and spatial openness. She is currently designing two new timber villas—one in Slovenia, the other in Germany.

Below, we present three of her most noteworthy projects.

 

Lake Glass House

The Lake Glass House was thoughtfully embedded into a lush green environment. The wooden structure does not dominate the landscape but rather complements it, blending modern architecture with natural materials. Handcrafted wood plays a central role in the home’s interior.

With precise execution and aesthetic refinement, the visible timber frame becomes the defining interior feature, bringing warmth, character, and architectural elegance to the space.

In 2024, this home was awarded the prestigious prize for Best Residential Interior at the Ukrainian Building Awards.

A Glass wood house by the lake

Among Irina’s award-winning works is a glass wood house set on a lakeside property, for which she received the Best Architectural Design of a Private House award in 2021. Fully glazed façades and a carefully balanced minimalist concept convinced the jury, who praised the blend of form and function.

Inspired by traditional Bavarian log homes, the villa is surrounded by a spruce forest. Due to the sloping terrain, a basement level was incorporated into the design, allowing the building to adapt to the site without disrupting the natural surroundings.

One of the most technically challenging parts of the project was the staircase. Several versions were explored before arriving at the final design, which balances structural clarity with visual impact. The finishing elements are fully in tune with the environment: the tones of the timber beams and flooring mirror the colors of nearby bark and trees, while the interior remains calm and restrained—drawing attention to the views through the expansive glazing.

The home features two entrances: one from the basement and one from the main level. The dining area opens upward with a clerestory glass strip that floods the space with daylight and emphasizes a sense of openness.

Forest house

In this forest house, architect Irina Karlikova emphasized transparency and connection to the natural surroundings. Located in a pine forest, the house is designed with fully glazed walls that maintain continuous visual contact with the outdoors.

The interior features marble-look ceramic finishes, carefully designed lighting, and a spacious layout. With 340 m² of floor area, the ground floor includes living spaces and a home office, while the upper level houses two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The glazed walls connect to a gallery area above, reinforcing the home’s airiness and fluidity.

This is architecture where natural materials and thoughtful design come together in a clear, contemporary expression of living.

 

 

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At KAGER, we believe that modern architecture deserves modern construction methods. That’s why we rely on panel construction—an approach that brings precision, efficiency and lasting protection to every home we build.

Greater precision, material protection and fewer on-site errors

At KAGER, all structural elements are manufactured in advance, in a controlled, dry production environment. Each element is produced under identical conditions, unaffected by moisture, sun or wind. This significantly increases construction quality, shortens assembly time on site and reduces the potential for errors.

Instead of transporting materials to the site for gradual assembly, all key components—walls, ceilings, and roof elements—are pre-assembled and finished in the factory. Already during production, elements are fitted with windows or large glass surfaces, doors, installation layers, thermal insulation, joint protections and surface finishes.

When the components leave the production facility, they are fully coordinated and ready for installation. They arrive on site as final, protected building parts that require no additional adjustments and form a stable and energy-efficient structure.

 

More than just a technical advantage

The main advantage of KAGER’s panel construction lies in the fact that the entire structural process is shifted from the building site to a protected indoor space. Wooden components are never exposed to moisture, UV rays or snow, ensuring long-term stability, dimensional accuracy and full material protection.

This type of construction allows for standardized quality—from CNC timber processing and handcrafted detailing to certified procedures that ensure every component is tested and ready for precise assembly.

Panel construction is therefore not only faster, but also safer and more energy-efficient.

Panel construction with visible wooden skeleton

KAGER is one of the few that combines the advantages of panel construction with a visible wooden skeleton. It is a system in which the load-bearing elements—columns and beams—are placed in a precise grid and remain visible even after construction is completed.

Between these load-bearing elements, factory-installed panel infills are added. These can be solid (insulated) or transparent, in the form of large glazed surfaces. This approach allows exceptional flexibility in the design of façades and interior walls, as they are not load-bearing and do not restrict architectural planning.

Above or between the primary structure, secondary elements such as ceilings are placed, forming a stable and lasting structure together with the skeleton. Wooden beams often remain exposed and highlight the warmth, natural character, and structural clarity of the home.

The end result is bright, airy and architecturally distinct spaces—a combination of timber skeleton and glass or wooden infills that define the timeless character of every KAGER home.

How panel construction differs from skeletal on-site building

Some prefab house providers still build directly on-site, where wooden structural components are assembled at the location. This process happens outdoors, without protection from the elements.

Wood that should remain dry is often exposed to moisture from the start, affecting its dimensional stability and long-term durability. Due to unstable weather conditions (temperature, humidity) and different construction teams, the final result is less predictable.

Insulation and installations are often added later, in suboptimal conditions. There is no factory control over assembly details, so any flaws only become visible later—either as energy losses or as structural weaknesses.

On-site construction therefore requires more coordination, logistics and carries higher risks. While in panel construction every component is pre-prepared, the quality of skeletal on-site construction depends on many variables that are difficult to fully control.

Why KAGER’s panel construction is a long-term solution

KAGER’s panel construction is not a compromise between speed and quality—it is a solution that delivers both. Because every part is produced under predefined conditions, the final result is:

• a sustainable wooden structure with a high level of protection,
  
  
• an architecturally flexible design with large glass surfaces, open floor plans and bright interiors,
  
  
• a reliable system with minimal environmental impact, as construction waste and transport are significantly reduced.

 

Building a KAGER home is never weather-dependent. The timber stays dry, the structure remains precise, and the result is long-lasting.

Panel construction is not just about speed—it ensures standardized quality, energy efficiency and durability. This is one of the fundamental differences between our approach and those who still assemble skeleton structures directly on site.