Ekokammare

Ekokammare is a term used in environmental design and architectural research to denote a room or chamber built to study ecological performance or to embody sustainable living principles. The word combines ek(o) meaning ecology with kammare meaning chamber, and its usage is most common in Finnish and Swedish contexts. The term is not universally standardized, and definitions may vary between institutions and projects.

A typical ekokammare emphasizes energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and material sustainability. Construction often features high levels of insulation, an airtight building envelope, passive solar design, and a ventilation system with heat recovery. Interiors commonly use low-emission materials, natural or recycled content, and biophilic elements such as plants. Monitoring equipment for energy consumption, air quality, humidity, and temperature is standard, enabling researchers to analyze occupant comfort and ecological performance under different scenarios.

Purpose and applications of ekokammare spaces include serving as living laboratories within universities and research centers, where experiments on energy saving, material life cycles, and occupant behavior can be conducted. They may also function as demonstration spaces for sustainable building practices and as educational environments for teaching ecology within built settings.

Variations of ekokammare exist as modular pods, temporary installations, or integrated subspaces within larger buildings. While the concept shares a common aim of reducing environmental impact, its specific design and reporting conventions can differ by project.

See also: living lab, passive house, green building, biophilic design, indoor air quality. Note that the term is not universally standardized and may be encountered with region-specific interpretations.