Advanced Active Facade

Architectural design strategies to integrate innovative photovoltaic technologies into residential façades.

At a time when the energy transition has become a priority challenge, the integration of photovoltaic systems on the building envelope (BIPV) constitutes one of the efficient principles to increase the production of renewable energy in the urban fabric. In this context, the interdisciplinary research project entitled Advanced Active Façade (AAF) was carried out as part of the National Research Program “Energy Turnaround” (NRP 70) of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), in collaboration with the Centre suisse d’électronique et de microtechnique (CSEM) based in Neuchâtel and the company H.Glass.

The approaches based on an interdisciplinary conception of façades integrating multiple objectives, in particular the maximization of the potential for architectural integration, the prefabrication of elements, a low environmental impact, and an increased efficiency in photovoltaic technology. The system is conceived as a self-supporting, prefabricated wooden skeleton, on which are mounted an interior coating, thermal cellulose-based insulation, and customized active panels on the outside. At the same time, it facilitates architectural integration, a high degree of prefabrication of elements, low environmental impact, and efficiency in photovoltaic technology.

Research Partners
Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST), PV-LAB, CSEM, Glass 2 Energy SA (G2E)

Research Team LAST
Prof. Emmanuel Rey, Dr. Sophie Lufkin, Dr. Angela Clua Longas

Funding
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) – National Research Program NRP 70


Thematic supplements

 

Solaris #04
Solare Lehre – Enseigner le solaire – L’insegnamento del solare
Hochparterre Thematic supplements,
August 2020

     
 

Solaris #03 
Die Haut des Hauses – La peau de la maison – La pelle dell’edificio
Hochparterre Thematic supplements,
June 2019

Article

 

Integrated thinking for photovoltaics in buildings
Christophe Ballif, Laure-Emmanuelle Perret-Aebi, Sophie Lufkin, Emmanuel Rey
in Photovoltaics blends in 
Nature Energy, vol. 3, 438-442
June 2018
 

Thesis

Designing Energy-Efficient Façades to Meet Energy Transition Targets

A. Clua Longas / E. Rey (Dir.)  

Lausanne, EPFL, 2019. 

Main publications

Un patrimoine bâti en transition

E. Rey 

Vivre plus mieux : Comment vivre avec les ressources d’une planète ? La situation du bâti dans le canton de Vaud; Etat de Vaud, 2021.

Integrierte Photovoltaik

S. Lufkin 

Holzbauer Spezial. 2020. num. 7, p. 8 – 9.

Active façades : life cycle environmental impacts and savings of photovoltaic power plants integrated into the building envelope

R. Itten; M. Stucki; A. Clua Longas; G. Cattaneo 

36th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), Marseille, France, September 9-13, 2019.

Active façades : life cycle environmental impacts and savings of photovoltaic power plants integrated into the building envelope

R. Itten; M. Stucki; A. Clua Longas; G. Cattaneo 

9th International Conference on Life Cycle Management, Poznan, Poland, September 1-4, 2019.

Towards dynamic active facades

S. Lufkin 

Nature Energy. 2019. Vol. 4, num. 8, p. 635 – 636. DOI : 10.1038/s41560-019-0443-x.

Un démonstrateur de façade active bas carbone

E. Rey; S. Lufkin; A. Clua Longas 

Fassade / Façade. 2019. num. 1, p. 12 – 17.

Advanced Active Façades : The construction of a full-scale demonstrator for BIPV architectural integration

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

2018. 34th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Hong-Kong, China, December 10-12, 2018.

Integrated thinking for photovoltaics in buildings

C. Ballif; L-E. Perret-Aebi; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

Nature Energy. 2018. Vol. 3, p. 438 – 442. DOI : 10.1038/s41560-018-0176-2.

Towards Advanced Active Façades

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

Forum Ecoparc 2017, Microcity, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, September 8, 2017.

Towards Advanced Active Façades: Analysis of façade requirements and development of an innovative construction system

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

2017. PLEA 2017 – Design to Thrive, Edinburgh, UK, July 3-5, 2017.

Introducing the Advanced Active Façade: Towards Near-Zero Buildings Incorporating Building Integrated Photovoltaics Expressive Issues

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

33rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition – EU PVSEC, RAI Convention & Exhibition Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 25-29, 2017.

Concevoir des façades actives bas carbone

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

2017. Forum Ecoparc 2017, Microcity, Neuchâtel, Suisse, September 8, 2017. p. 20 – 22.

Towards advanced active façades : The development of a new construction system combining passive and active design strategies

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

2017. International Conference for Sustainable Design of the Built Environment SDBE 2017, London, December 20-21, 2017. p. 526 – 537.

Architectural Integration of Low-Carbon Technology and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Into the design process of Advanced Active Façades (AAF)

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin 

15. Nationale Photovoltaik-Tagung 2017, Lausanne, Switzerland, March 23-24, 2017.

Towards a new prospective basis for the design strategies of active façades

A. Clua Longas; S. Lufkin; E. Rey 

2016. PLEA 2016, Los Angeles, July 11-13.