LG Electronics new modular constructed ‘Smart Cottage’ on full display

At last week’s IFA Berlin 2023, Europe’s premier home appliances exhibition, two industry heavyweights, GS E&C and LG Electronics, showcased their new modular constructed ‘Smart Cottage’.

As reported by Built Offsite earlier this year, LG’s objective for their modular home was “to provide customers with a unique residential experience that integrates space, home electronics, and support services.” The prototype of the modular home was first unveiled in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, Korea.

The modular constructed Smart Cottage was developed jointly by GS E&C’s European subsidiary, Danwood, with the design and construction of the Smart Cottage leaning heavily on Danwood’s steel-timber hybrid modular technique.

According to a company release, the modular constructed Smart Cottage needs just 40 percent of the annual primary energy required by a similar reference house, in accordance with Germany’s Efficiency House 40 Plus standard.

LG Electronics also equipped the Smart Cottage with smart heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technologies, a 4-kilowatt solar panel on the roof and an energy storage system, so that the modular constructed home can be positioned as a “net-zero house” targeting the European market.

“It was meaningful that Germany, the main market for Danwood, became the place where we unveiled the [modular constructed] Smart Cottage equipped with the high-efficiency energy technologies of GS E&C and LG Electronics,” GS E&C President Huh Yoon-hong said.

“Both companies will continue cooperation to come up with innovative residential spaces in Korea as well.”

See LG’s modular built Smart Cottage st IFA 2023

“The innovative, high-efficiency LG kitchen, living, and air solutions installed in LG Smart Cottage include the WashTower Compact, QuadWash™ dishwasher, various built-in kitchen appliances, a water purifier and the Therma V™ Monobloc air-to-water heat pump (AWHP). In addition to delivering year-around indoor comfort while using less power than a conventional heating and cooling system, LG’s energy-saving AWHP can provide a reliable supply of hot water via connection to the 200-litre-capacity Integrated Water Tank (IWT).”

Lee Jae-sung, head of LG Electronics’ air solution business division, also explained that LG Smart Cottage was “more than” just a modular built house – it represents LG’s low-carbon technologies.

“It is more than us selling a prefab house to the customers. The [modular] house is concentrated with LG’s technologies, generating energy on its own, and saving them in the energy storage system to create an off-grid experience to run the house and power electric vehicles by self,” he said.

Apparently, interest in their modular Smart Cottage isn’t limited to Europe. Reports suggest potential market interest from Australia, with European customers also considering it as a primary residence, while in Korea, it’s being eyed as a potential second home.