The Architecture Award Building-Integrated Solar Technology was launched by the Bavarian Association for the Promotion of Solar Energy in 2000, and has since been awarded ten times. The international award, which brings together architecture and solar energy, is open to projects from all over the world and honors outstanding planning and design of building-integrated solar installations.
During the most recent competition, the panel of judges selected some particularly interesting projects. The construction assignments are very varied, with different conditions, but all of the projects showed that the integration of solar technology is possible to a high standard while meeting design and technical ambitions.
Turning old into new – the renovation of the 14-story building from 1967 and the construction of a new adjacent building were planned by an interdisciplinary team including architect, property owner, energy planner and university. The design took into consideration easy recycling, climate resilience and a life-cycle assessment.
With façade-integrated photovoltaics, the resulting design is innovative and suitable as a model for ambitions energy renovation projects for high-rise buildings in the future.
The photovoltaic modules were integrated into the south and the west-facing façade. Thanks to their color, the photovoltaic modules are unrecognizable as solar panels, blending them into the background of corrugated aluminum façade panels.
All PV modules are mounted on a metal substructure with clamps, flush with the suspended corrugated aluminum. The matte PV modules double as façade cladding, replacing some of the aluminum façade elements. The entire façade, including the BIPV panels, can be dismantled and sorted according to material.
In contrast to the 98 kW of capacity of the PV façade, the roof only has space for approximately 17 kW of PV capacity, which demonstrates the potential that façades have for generating electricity. The east façade is not even being used for power generation for legal reasons.
The project was awarded the Architecture Award Building-Integrated Solar Technology 2024.
BIPV - der Zauber der Unsichtbaren (German)
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
4:00–5:30pm
Intersolar Forum, Hall A3, Booth A3.150