A Wuheng Residential Case Study by MENRED

Why Architects Care About This Project

This project demonstrates how the Wuheng Comfort System can be integrated as a core architectural strategy rather than a mechanical afterthought.
Originally built in the 1980s, the house was fully demolished and rebuilt into a contemporary three-and-a-half-storey residence in China. From the earliest design phase, the objective was clear:
To deliver constant indoor comfort, clean air, and high energy efficiency—without visible air terminals, drafts, or mechanical noise.

Climate-Driven Design Strategy

The project is located in a region with cold, humid winters and hot, humid summers.
Instead of relying on conventional air-based HVAC systems, comfort is achieved through a radiant thermal system combined with energy and humidity recovery ventilation, preserving spatial clarity and acoustic quality.

The Wuheng Comfort System: Five Constants Defined

The Wuheng Comfort System is based on five measurable and controllableconstant indoor performance conditions:

• Constant Temperature (22°C-26­°C)
  Radiant ceiling cooling in summer and hydronic floor heating in winter ensure uniform, draft-free thermal comfort.
  
• Constant Humidity (RH35% to 65%)
  Energy and humidity recovery ventilation prevents excessive moisture in summer and over-drying in winter.
  
• Constant Oxygen Level
  Indoor air quality is evaluated by CO₂ concentration, maintained below 700 ppm, meeting international IAQ benchmarks.
  
• Constant Cleanliness
  PM2.5 concentration is controlled through high-efficiency filtration and balanced ventilation. It should be less than 25µg.
  
• Constant Quietness
  Internally, fan coil units are eliminated; externally, high-performance doors and windows block outdoor noise—creating an exceptionally quiet indoor environment.
  

Together, these five constants form aperformance-based comfort framework, not a product package.

Radiant Cooling as an Architectural Element

All interior spaces are equipped with MENRED radiant ceiling panels, fully integrated into the ceiling construction.

For architects, this means:

• No visible diffusers or grilles
  
• Clean ceiling geometry suitable for minimalist design
  
• Uniform cooling without drafts
  
• Greater freedom for lighting and spatial composition
  

The ceiling becomes anactive thermal surface, not a passive boundary.

Ventilation with Energy and Humidity Recovery

Both MENRED i7 and G6 ventilation systems are equipped with enthalpy recovery cores, recovering heat and humidity during air exchange.
This significantly reduces cooling and dehumidification loads while stabilizing indoor humidity.

System zoning is clearly defined:

• i7 serves main living areas on each floor
  
• G6 serves bedrooms, prioritizing nighttime air quality and silence
  
• BR300 provides negative pressure exhaust in bathrooms
  

Ventilation and thermal conditioning are deliberately separated to improve control and energy efficiency.

Energy Strategy and Low-Energy Design

The house integrates:

• 60 m² rooftop photovoltaic panels
  
• 42 kWh battery storage
  

This enables high self-consumption, peak shaving, and reduced grid dependency. Combined with low-temperature heating and high-temperature radiant cooling, the system aligns withlow-energy, low-exergy design principles.

Conclusion

This project shows how the Wuheng Comfort System enables architects to design residential buildings that arequiet, healthy, energy-efficient, and spatially uncompromised.

By integrating radiant heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation, and renewable energy systems, MENRED provides a comfort strategy aligned with contemporary architectural values and long-term building performance goals.