Photovoltaic Architecture: Where Green Energy Meets Contemporary Design

With the increasingly severe global energy crisis and environmental pollution problems, the unsustainability of traditional energy sources is becoming increasingly apparent, making the development and utilization of renewable energy an inevitable trend.

 

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), a technology that deeply integrates solar power generation systems with building structures, differs from traditional Building Attached Photovoltaics (BAPV) systems, which simply "attach" photovoltaic panels to building surfaces. BIPV emphasizes directly designing photovoltaic components as structural parts of a building's exterior walls, roof, windows, curtain walls, and sunshades. This allows buildings to generate and store electricity, realizing the innovative concept of "buildings as power stations." Through the integration of power generation, structure, and aesthetics, it achieves a fusion of energy production and architectural beauty.

 

 

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A Pioneer Campus: Encoding Nature

Shenzhen University of Science and Technology

 

 

Located in Guangming Science City, Shenzhen University of Science and Technology is bordered by Gongchang Road to the north, Beizhen Road to the west, and Guangming Forest Park to the east. The campus consists of six compact, multi-functional clusters. The main entrance and plaza connect to the southern section of Beizhen Road, a major city artery, while a secondary entrance is near the Shenzhen University of Science and Technology metro station.

 

△ Aerial View © Silk Road Vision Technology Co., Ltd.

 

△ Site Location © reMIX Studio

 

△ Hydrological Conditions © reMIX Studio

 

The project, a collaboration between reMIX Studio, the China Academy of Building Research, and Wadi Engineering Design, is built around the core concept of "encoding nature." It creates a pioneering campus that integrates ecological resilience, innovative education, and the exploration of future cities. By preserving the existing on-site canals and optimizing the water system outline, the project ensures that mountain and water features permeate the functional clusters. This fosters integration between the campus and the adjacent natural and urban areas, resulting in a well-designed and scientifically planned layout.

 

△ Clustered Campus Planning Strategy © reMIX Studio

 

△ City Greenways Integration Analysis Diagram © reMIX Studio

 

△ Site Plan © reMIX Studio

 

△ Campus Under Construction

 

The architectural design employs different passive energy-saving strategies based on the functional differences of each building, aiming for a two-star green building standard for the entire campus. Furthermore, the campus will feature flagship demonstration projects: the library will strive for both three-star green building and LEED Gold certifications, the international exchange center will aim for three-star green building and WELL Platinum certifications, and the stadium will be developed as a demonstration project for ultra-low energy consumption buildings.

 

△ Aerial View of Campus Landscape

 

△ Shuguang Academy

 

△ Academic Research Building and Shuguang Academy

 

△ Academic Research Building

 

△ International Exchange Center

 

△ Campus River Landscape

 

Another highlight of the campus design is the continuous covered walkway (SUAT LOOP). It efficiently connects the clustered groups into a loop, creating a pedestrian-friendly campus. Combined with photovoltaic low-carbon technology, it forms a low-carbon energy loop for the campus. The 1.4-kilometer-long walkway features 7,800 square meters of monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic panels on its roof, with an estimated annual power generation of 1.18 million kilowatt-hours, providing power to the campus via low-voltage grid connection.

 

△ SUAT LOOP Model © reMIX Studio

 

△ SUAT LOOP Exterior View © DONG Architectural Imaging

 

The project includes approximately 12,000 square meters of photovoltaic installations. The campus's total photovoltaic system is expected to generate 2.22 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing about 8% of the campus's energy needs. Here, students will enjoy a high-quality campus environment surrounded by mountains and water, living in harmony with nature, absorbing knowledge, inspiring innovation, and exploring the boundless possibilities of the future.

 

△ LOOP and Stadium

 

△ Library Viewed from the Stadium

 

△ Comprehensive Building Viewed from the LOOP

 

△ Aerial View of the Comprehensive Building

 

△ Exterior of the Comprehensive Building © DONG Architectural Imaging

 

△ Comprehensive Building and Lake © DONG Architectural Imaging

 

 

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A Valley of Knowledge Beneath the Ginkgo Trees

Beijing City Library

 

 

Located on the banks of the scenic Tong Hui River in Tongzhou District, Beijing's sub-center, the Beijing City Library features a series of staggered bookshelves forming a "valley of knowledge." This allows readers to enjoy the picturesque scenery outside while immersing themselves in the wonderful world of books and literature.

 

△ Entrance Plaza © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Night View © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Building Exterior © Zhu Yumeng

 

Designed by Snøhetta in collaboration with the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute, this project aims to explore and respond to the needs of changing times and regional characteristics, fostering open intellectual exchange and harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

 

A distinctive feature is its large-scale glass curtain wall, which not only introduces natural light into the reading spaces but also allows external passersby to view the vibrant interior environment. The heart of the library is a nearly 16-meter-high welcome forum, with tiered platforms rising along smooth, rhythmic curves. A winding path through the center, known as the "valley," serves as the building's main circulatory artery.

 

△ Building Facade © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Close-up Exterior View © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Exterior Facade and Eaves Viewed from Below © Zhu Yumeng

 

The "valley" form echoes the nearby Tonghui River, seamlessly extending the landscape experience and connecting the north and south entrances, guiding visitors to all other spaces within. To bridge the gap between the "valley" and the vastness of the books, tall, slender, mushroom-shaped columns are placed within the expansive space, their tops adorned with ginkgo leaf-shaped panels. Sheltered under the canopy of ginkgo leaves, visitors can climb to the "summit" and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the book valley and the vast horizon in the distance.

 

△ Overview of the interior space © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Staircase-like hill rising gently from the "valley" © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Transition between the "valley" and the scale of the books © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Ascending the book mountain by stairs © Zhu Yumeng

 

The spacious roof overhang reduces solar radiation on the glass curtain wall. The roof incorporates photovoltaic (BIPV) construction elements to replace traditional roofing and facade materials, utilizing optimal sunlight hours to generate renewable energy for the roof and creating a "shade" for the interior spaces to reduce solar heat gain.

 

△ The 16-meter-high glass curtain wall enclosure brings excellent natural light and landscape views to the interior © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Columns like a ginkgo forest rising from the "valley" © Zhu Yumeng

 

△ Detail of the ginkgo-shaped column capital © Zhu Yumeng

 

 

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Energy station under the awning

Bellerivestrasse 36 building

 

 

Located on the picturesque shores of Lake Zurich, the Bellerivestrasse 36 project in Switzerland seamlessly blends natural beauty with the vibrancy of city life. F. Møller Architects has given the building a unique appearance with its "awning", using a stepped terrace structure to break away from the enclosed feeling of traditional high-rise buildings, creating a balance between rich public interaction and private office spaces.

 

△ Aerial view of the site © Mark Hadden

 

△ Aerial view of the project © Mark Hadden

 

△ Aerial view of the terrace © Mark Hadden

 

The photovoltaic elements on the awning generate electricity, and their projection length reaches 1.8 meters, providing power for the building and effectively shielding the interior spaces from direct sunlight, playing an important role in the building's energy performance.

 

△ Layered awnings © Mark Hadden

 

△ Terrace garden © Mark Hadden

 

△ Building and nature © Mark Hadden

 

△ View of the building from the road © Mark Hadden

 

The awning is designed with a 25° inclination, maximizing solar energy absorption and improving the energy output efficiency of the photovoltaic system. Verified by multi-dimensional environmental data, compared to vertical installation, it can increase photovoltaic power generation by about 20%. Its structure effectively reduces indoor glare and solar heat through the inclined angle, allowing occupants on the facade to avoid light pollution without additional anti-glare measures.

 

△ Building exterior © Mark Hadden

 

△ Building facade © Mark Hadden

 

The underside of the awning is covered with aluminum plates, seamlessly connecting with the interior ceiling decoration, visually extending the interior space. The photovoltaic panels and the underside of the awning, along with other parts of the building's exterior facade, use a champagne tone, creating a vibrant effect that changes with the weather and light. The champagne color harmoniously blends with the surrounding environment, reinterpreting the aesthetics of the 1970s.

 

△ Building detail © Mark Hadden

 

△ Outdoor space © Mark Hadden

 

△ Champagne-toned facade © Mark Hadden

 

△ Exterior detail © Mark Hadden

 

△ Large area of glass © Mark Hadden

 

The project's photovoltaic system has a total power generation of approximately 478 kWp, meeting 50% of the building's daily energy consumption and leaving room for future battery storage.

 

△ Terrace and garden © Mark Hadden

 

△ Reception area © Mark Hadden

 

△ Ground floor space © Mark Hadden

 

△ Office space © Mark Hadden

Reprinted from Shenzhen Municipal Works Bureau