Aesthetic construction

Completely customised building shells can be designed with aesthetic, power-generating construction materials.

The building envelope as a statement

The building envelope makes a statement. Therefore, having complete design freedom is not a luxury, but a requirement. New technologies allow natural materials to be used to create facades that are both highly expressive and generate electricity. These building envelopes are the only economical building envelopes. More about cost-effectiveness here.

Creative freedom

The days when design had to conform to technology are definitely a thing of the past. In the past, solar technology was only suitable for specially designed projects. For example, the optical characteristics of earlier solar cells were incorporated into the architectural concept. Of course, this is still possible today – but it is no longer a necessity. Today, any kind of design is possible Here you will learn everything about the current state of the art.

A building envelope like this can be constructed with customised solar modules. The only limits are the power of vision and the courage to implement it.

The colour as the basic character of the building

Just as the colour of a person’s clothes can change their appearance, the colour of a building’s envelope can give it a character of its own. That is why it is particularly valuable in the area of colouring not to be limited to a selection of just a few colours, but – on the contrary – to be able to open up the colours chart wide. Whether classic anthracite, sun-warmed yellow or strong Swiss red – solar modules can be produced in all colours. It is also possible to leave the colours chart completely behind and compose your own unique colour. This gives the building exactly the look that was intended in the vision.

Colours can be selected from the colors chart or individually created (picture: solarcolor.)

Designing the face of the building using standard dimensions? Never.

The harmonious and elegant arrangement of windows, doors and balconies can be done freely according to aesthetic considerations. Solar modules can be adapted to any chosen grid. Individual sizes (up to 2.5 x 4.2 m per piece) and all shapes are possible, e.g. triangles, polygons, recesses, curves – yes, even arches and dome-like solar modules can be manufactured. The solar modules can be used in the facade, as well as on the roof and railings.

A customised solar façade in the greater Bern area (picture: Megasol Energy Ltd.)

The surface is a voice

The surface of a building envelope can shape the perception of a building as much as a voice can shape the impression of a person. Solar modules can take on any surface that glass can take on – smooth, structured, satin-finished. This is because glass is an especially elegant and malleable material with extraordinary technical and visual capabilities. It is also possible to create completely customised surfaces with fused or cast glass, to expand the aesthetic with the dimension of touch. This makes it possible to make the architectural vision tangible in the truest sense of the word. At the same time, the building radiates yet another message: sustainability. Find out everything you need to know here.

Special glass is processed into solar modules and becomes part of the building envelope (picture: solarcolor.ch)

The knowledge is available

SolarApp is a tool that can be used as a guide right from the very first project phase. It allows you to run through various scenarios free of charge, which can provide valuable notes for setting priorities. Every building envelope must meet aesthetic requirements – however, not every building envelope has to exhaust every existing possibility. SolarApp provides reliable answers, particularly when a balance between investment and design requirements is sought. Find out how it works here. Plan your building envelope with SolarApp. Get your free SolarReport by starting the Solar Calculator.

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