Innovations

A unique design to establish friendship with our sun

Solar architecture

As a prerequisite for a successful 3D visualization, a professional architectural concept with exterior and interior details should be available. All customer needs should be incorporated into this concept as much as possible. Alternatively, a unique design could be developed, which aligns more closely with customer requirements, both in terms of aesthetic values and the greater potential for photovoltaic integration.

process of design

Our emphasis is on the utilization of passive solar strategies from the very first steps of the design process. This allows us to create solar houses that are efficient while also possessing high aesthetic value, as we envision them.

Thermal mass

This office building features designed façades that, in exposed mode, form the main structural system. It uniquely combines concrete, glass, and metal. The design won second place in an architectural competition. The energy concept uses exposed concrete to absorb solar energy and transfer it to the building's interior.

All the next five concepts focus on activating the thermal capacity of concrete as the core idea. They minimize material usage in diagonal roof constructions, with exposed concrete as the main roofing material. While sharing the same living area, the concepts vary in roof shape and architectural design.

This concept is being implemented for a private building, with each floor containing a separate apartment. The core idea arises from a new composition of curved and rectangular shapes. The final result leads to a variety of unique outdoor terraces. The curved forms also make up the main body of the structure, which features a distinct composition with cylindrical columns.

This concept is the realization of a simple combination of steep roofs and rectangular forms. The main part of the building is a six-story structure with a pitched roof and an expansive terrace. The outcome of these compositions appears to be some unique shapes that provide visual balance. The top apartment is a triplex unit with several panoramic terraces.

This concept is a simple form of a private building with several apartments on each floor. The overall shape is a straightforward combination of rectangular forms with some exposed external structural columns. The first result is several deep terraces filled with windows.

The main idea of this concept is based on the composition of an inward-curving concrete core that spirals upward with four rectangular boxes. Two of these boxes are usable spaces incorporated into the floor plans, while the other two are outdoor terraces. Since there is no axis of symmetry, each elevation is entirely unique and clearly distinct from another elevation.

Although the main idea of this concept appears very simple—namely, a primary composition of a steep roof and a rectangular shape—we can find strong and simple forms in the descending shapes and terraces that actually offer a clear diversity in the form of elevations. Despite initial impressions, the steep roof does not disrupt the interior spaces of the building.

This idea seeks to answer the question of whether photovoltaic systems should always be integrated solely into buildings. If the answer is NO, this work has highlighted possibilities for integrating photovoltaics into other openings and neighborhoods.

Solar city

In this design, PVs are integrated into curved structural elements that support the PV glazing while also serving other functions. With this method, the houses have the freedom to use the elements, and other parts of the city are responsible for providing the PV systems.

Regarding side streets covered with semi-transparent solar panels installed on the curved structures, a more pleasant summer climate is created. In winter, the wind is controlled by the same system, as long as some sunlight still penetrates through this transparent system.

The buildings grouped into a complex share a common structural system due to the possibility of a multi-story building. This system addresses both construction-related tasks and the integration of PV systems into neighborhoods.

Solar components

In our designs, the main components of the passive house play a crucial role in the passive minimization of the buildings' energy demand. These components include thermal mass, solar shading elements, optimal orientation, heat recovery systems, strategically placed overhangs, passive solar heating, natural ventilation strategies, green roofs, and the optimal utilization of the PV system. By integrating these elements, we ensure that the buildings maintain a comfortable indoor climate throughout the year while significantly reducing their energy consumption.

The fundamental idea behind the development of this solar concept is to distribute the number of solar modules between buildings and open spaces. To achieve higher energy efficiency for PV systems, a tilt of approximately 30° is typically recommended. Therefore, an artificial diagonal surface is created in the openings by placing the internal roads at a lower level than the buildings. The lower area of this diagonal surface can be used for the integration of batteries and connection pipes.

PVs in open spaces

The fundamental idea behind the development of this solar concept is to distribute the number of solar modules between buildings and open spaces. To achieve higher energy efficiency for PV systems, a tilt of approximately 30° is typically recommended. Therefore, an artificial diagonal surface is created in the openings by placing the internal roads at a lower level than the buildings.

Energy Concept

By minimizing the envelope surface factor, heat losses can be reduced. The concept could utilize parallel devices such as heat exchangers and heat pumps. However, to ensure sufficient space for the integration of PV and solar thermal modules, solar-assisted heat pumps could lower the auxiliary energy needed, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the concept. A particularly sloped surface is also suitable for integrating a trombe wall, which is connected to a natural ventilation system for heating. This could be achieved by utilizing the effect of a "solar chimney" in conjunction with the height difference between the main building and the hillside. Excess electricity could be used for electric mobility in the car connection to the north.

This concept has been further developed to practically integrate heating devices and ventilation systems. In this residential building, the integration of passive solar components has been implemented in an innovative way. The heating and cooling devices are logically aligned with the geometric features of the house. At the highest point, there is a heat exchanger that, in combination with a solar chimney and a trombe wall, facilitates natural ventilation through a diagonal façade component.

Trombe wall

The ventilation of the PV system also contributes to higher efficiencies at lower temperatures. Additional supply air fans can accommodate various options that consider the seasonal energy needs of the building.

​Innovations

Solar architecture

Solar components​

Innovations

Solar components