Appreciation of Award-Winning Works from the 10th International BIPV Architecture Competition (Part 1)

The International Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Architecture Competition, hosted by the Bavarian Solar Energy Association (SEV-Bayern), Germany, reached its 10th edition in 2024, attracting 60 entries from 10 countries. Dr. Bruno Schiebelsberger, Chairman of the Bavarian Solar Energy Association, served as the chairman of the jury for this competition. ・ Dr. Bruno Schiebelsberger chaired the competition jury.

After multiple rounds of on-site inspections and in-depth discussions, the jury announced the winners in late May 2025.

Award-winning works: Regensburg Apartment Building and Bellerivestrasse 36, Zurich (Image: SEV Bayern)

The two projects that received the "2024 Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Architecture Award" and €17,000 in prize money are:

Regensburg Apartment Building (Applicant: studiomolter, Munich) Zurich Bellerivestrasse 36 (Applicant: C.F. Møller Architects, Aarhus)

Four other projects received "Special Recognition Awards":

Lützelsee Business Building (Applicant: Clou Architekten AG, Zurich)

Sas Fehrz - Jesus Church (Applicant: Megasol Energie AG)

Kaufbeuren LINARA Showroom (Applicant: Dr. Peter Kuczia, Osnabrück)

Arosa KuhBar New Construction (Applicant: Bergbahnen AG Arosa / Albertin Architektur)

This article introduces the "2024 Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Architecture Award" winning project: the Regensburg Apartment Building

Partial view of the west facade of the apartment building (Image: Studiomolter)

This low-rise apartment building, completed in 1967, originally had 58 residential units across 14 floors. It underwent renovation and expansion in 2023. A second fire escape staircase was added to meet new fire safety regulations, and three additional units were added on each floor around this staircase, resulting in a total of 98 residential units after the expansion.

Sectional axonometric drawing of the apartment building before and after expansion (Image: Studiomolter)

The building's old exterior wall panels were fiber-reinforced concrete, which did not meet ecological and circular economy requirements. These were removed during the renovation and replaced with aluminum alloy corrugated sheets (containing 92% recycled aluminum) and colored photovoltaic panels.

Image: Studiomolter

770m² of matte champagne-colored photovoltaic modules were integrated into the exterior walls of the south and west facades. Their color blends seamlessly with the aluminum alloy corrugated sheets. Approximately 100m² of black photovoltaic modules were also installed on the south-facing balcony railings. The total installed capacity of the facade photovoltaic system is 98kWp, exceeding the 17kWp capacity of the rooftop photovoltaic system.

South and east sides of the apartment building (Image: Studiomolter)

The photovoltaic modules are fixed to the purlins via rear hooks. DC cables run vertically through fire-resistant sleeves in the external insulation layer, connecting to the inverters on the roof. Horizontal fire breaks are installed on each floor of the exterior wall.

Exterior wall plan/elevation diagram (Image: Studiomolter)

The AC cables from the inverters are laid in the building's internal shafts to the ground floor. The electricity generated by the photovoltaic system is provided to the residents according to a tenant electricity model provided to the residents.

Regional building site plan (Image: Studiomolter)

Project File:

• Address: Alfons-Bayerer-Str. 2, Regensburg
• Owner/Operator/Constructor: Stadtbau-GmbH Regensburg
• Architectural Design: studiomolter, München; Stadtbau-GmbH Regensburg
• Photovoltaic installed capacity: South facade 45kWp, West facade 53kWp, Roof 17kWp
• Completion Date: December 2023
   

West facade of the apartment building (Image: Studiomolter)