SolarLeaf, the world’s first bio-responsive façade presented at last year’s International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg has won the Zumtobel Group Award 2014 in the “Applied Innovations” category.

The façade of the four-storey residential building BIQ House in Hamburg comprises 129 integrated SolarLeaf photo-bioreactors which absorb CO2 emissions while converting natural light into biomass and heat as renewable energy resources and that can be used as adaptive shading devices. Photosynthesis takes place in this new generation of glass photo-bioreactors, installed on the southwest and southeast elevations.

Since commissioning this innovative façade in April 2013, it has been monitored for its technical and energy performance as well as for its acceptance with users. The intermediate results are promising: the system is generating a net energy gain. Additional research programmes are investigating the viability of full integration of the system on a larger district scale, as well as the creation of a means by which the high-value biomass may be converted into pharmaceutical and food-supplement products.

As lead consultants on the project, Arup developed the system in collaboration with SSC Strategic Science Consult and Colt International. Our innovative approach means that we have delivered cutting-edge technology which holds huge potential for newly built or retro-fitted medium and large scale developments and also makes a notable contribution to the future quality of life in cities.

„The award recognizes the exceptional sense of collaboration crossing the fields of design, building engineering and biotechnology. We believe that this kind of teamwork is required to shape the future of our built environment.“

- Jan Wurm, Associate Director, Research Leader Europe, Arup

„Technology meets biology in the bioreactor façade, and so this development marks a new era of construction.Colt is delighted that SolarLeaf has won the prestigious Zumtobel Group Award.“
- Lukas Verlage, Managing Director Germany, Colt International

Explaining the reasons for their choice, the jury said:
„In the future we need to develop buildings which don’t just offer shelter and minimise energy consumption but also try to deliver answers to how we provide the urban environment with energy, water and better air quality. The SolarLeaf façade is an outstanding example here in that it generates energy without taking up additional space. This project is especially valuable because for the first time we have an application that actually works in an existing building.“

Watch the Brian Cody's Video

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