Swiss Tech Convention Center - Richter Dahl Rocha & Associes.

How important is material exploration and innovation in facades?

Lets understand this in detail in this weeks project i.e Swiss Tech Convention center, where the impact and utilization of technological and material advancement is seen through out the project from architecture, structure to fa?ade details.

The SwissTech Convention Center, designed by Architect Richter Dahl Rocha & Associés architectes SA, Lausanne was inaugurated at the beginning of April 2014 and is one of the most modern and best-equipped convention centers in the world.

Known for its functional flexibility and sticking roof cantilever of 40 meter above the foyer, STCC primarily consists of? a large auditorium that can be transformed at will, going automatically from a full-session amphitheater hall of 3,000 seats to a perfectly flat exhibition or banquet hall of over 1,800 m2, thanks to the tipping seats.

Yet still the most impressive feature of the project is its Western fa?ade which is covered with 65 colourful horizontal panels equipped with what is known as ’Gratzel cells’ which are transparent special dye solar cells, developed by Prof Gr?tzel (1991) at the EPFL, a technology integrated into a building of this size for the first time.

These solar cells reproduce plant photosynthesis, regardless of the light penetration and generate "green" electricity.?

Simultaneously, by covering the combined surface area of over 300 square meters, they protect the building from direct sunlight and reduce energy consumption from air conditioning.

The material exploration and experimentation done by prof Graztel, gave us a new dimension for horizontal solar energy conservation making facades more active in? preserving and restoring energy whilst maintaining its aesthetics.

Thankyou for your Read!

To our dear Readers,

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References:

Content and Photography: HRS, Architects,ch, Archdaily, Swisstech convention center, Dominik Ghel, World-Architects, RDR Architects, BiPv, EPFL.