Building with sunbeams: When architecture learns from nature

‘Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you,’ observed the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright nearly 100 years ago. This approach is more relevant than ever in today's architecture. Sustainability and energy efficiency remain central challenges of our time. The solutions lie in nature itself, as the pioneers of solar architecture have recognised: Since the 1980s, Solarlux has been pursuing the goal of saving energy and improving a building’s indoor climate with sophisticated systems.

Instead of relying on conventional energy sources, the Saxony-based company employs the principles of passive solar architecture to utilise natural solar energy efficiently. How seamlessly Solarlux's technically and aesthetically advanced window and balcony glazing systems integrate into architectural concepts, while also making bold design statements if desired, is demonstrated by the Concept House in Austria’s Salzkammergut region. The vision of dissolving the boundaries between indoors and outdoors connects Solarlux with architect Dr Peter Kuczia, an expert in solar building design.

Sustainable architecture surrounded by nature

The timber-constructed building, designed by Kuczia, epitomises the ideal of living in harmony with nature. The modern and sustainable architecture blends seamlessly into the striking landscape and at the same time utilises natural resources to regulate the building’s climate. While the rear of the house features a wooden facade in shades of brown and blue, visually harmonising with the rocky mountain landscape, the front of the house opens up to the lake, boasting large windows and an impressive loggia on the upper floor.

This loggia is a key feature in implementing the resource-efficient concept. Glazed on two sides, the ten-metre-wide section of the building extends across the entire south facade. By combining floor-to-ceiling cero sliding windows, the Proline T sliding and rotating system and the SL Plus all-glass parapet, the elegant opening not only creates a smooth transition to nature, but the loggia also serves as a highly efficient climate buffer.

‘A double facade, consisting of the insulated cero sliding windows on the inside and the non-insulated sliding and rotating elements on the outside, makes a significant contribution to the natural climate control of the Solarlux House,’ explains architect Dr Peter Kuczia, outlining the energy-efficient principle. ‘By actively opening and closing one or both layers, warm or cool air can be channelled into or out of the house as needed. As a result, the rooms are at a comfortable temperature, adapted to the needs of the users and individually adjustable.’

Development of the CO2mfort facade

Solarlux first presented such a new interpretation of the double facade in 2010 in Nijverdal, Netherlands. The starting point for developing the so-called CO2mfort facade was to use products from the company's own portfolio to demonstrate openness and transparency while shaping the future of sustainable construction. Also in Nijverdal, the space between the floor-to-ceiling Proline T sliding and rotating system on the exterior and the thermally separated bi-folding glass doors on the interior allows for natural ventilation and climate regulation within the building. This area helps regulate the temperature while also serving as an additional open space or a balcony for employees. Built-in solar control glass also reflects infrared radiation, ensuring brightness in the rooms without unwanted heat buildup. Partially opened folding facades also achieve continuous air exchange without causing draughts.

Since 2016, the CO2mfort facade at the Solarlux headquarters in Melle has ensured energy efficiency in the building while contributing to a high level of employee satisfaction. The Concept House in Austria now demonstrates that this practical concept, which is suitable for everyday use, is not only a valuable asset for industrial buildings but also stands for timeless aesthetics and superior comfort in residential architecture.

Incidentally, the inspiration for the glass double facade came from the historic box-type window, also known as a ‘winter window.’ Unlike its predecessor, the modern version from Solarlux adapts flexibly to changing climatic conditions and the individual needs of the users. Additionally, Solarlux also works with architects and planners to develop energy-efficient building concepts that are precisely tailored to the specific site conditions, optimising the natural energy gains from solar radiation.

Suitable products for every concept

Even on their own, the individual products offer unparalleled design freedom. The cero sliding windows offer maximum transparency with minimum frame profiles – even across large surfaces. The bi-folding glass doors from Solarlux can be folded into a slim panel bundle, allowing for a complete opening that connects the inside with the outside. The portfolio is rounded off with additional solutions for facades, winter gardens and terraces. This excellent quality is achieved through in-house production at the Solarlux Campus in Melle.

'For over 40 years, Solarlux has been working on ‘less-wall’ solutions, driven by our belief that security, warmth and comfort form a strong unit with light, air and space,’ emphasises Solarlux CEO Stefan Holtgreife. 'Maximum daylight, naturally supplied fresh air and a strong connection to the outdoors are therefore decisive factors for the design of rooms in which people feel comfortable in the long term.’ Solarlux makes its wealth of theoretical and practical expertise readily available to architects and planners through consultations and its own installation team. In this way, creative minds can venture to the horizon of their imagination in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright and, thanks to Solarlux, go beyond it.

© Architonic

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