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Striking Solar-Powered Design Center Opens in France

cite du design solar power

Where once weapons were made, solar power and innovative design now rule the day. The Cité du Design (International Design Center) in St. Etienne, France is a cutting-edge achievement in both building design and renewable energy. The more than 185,000-square foot complex rests on the historic site of former National Arms Manufacture.

More impressive than its adaptive reuse of a weapons complex is its successful implementation of a solar power facade on the Center’s most notable building, the ‘platine.’ Comprised of 14,000 triangles made from a variety of materials, the facade is strategically designed to control light, temperature and air flow throughout the building. Many of these triangles are actually photovoltaic solar panels that create electricity for use in the building. In a fitting and clever way, the International Design Center illustrates a unique mixture of passive and active solar design.

cite du design solar center

The center, designed by LIN architects, was unveiled on October 1 as an institution for communication, research and education in design. In addition to solar energy, the ‘platine’ has several other green elements. Two greenhouses incorporated into the center provide pre-heated air that is circulated into nearby rooms, as well as a heat recovery system that reduces heating loads on an already efficient HVAC system.

Design-wise, the center also includes an impressive observation tower, auditoriums, meeting rooms, exhibition space, a media library and a public esplanade. It is not exactly clear how much power the photovoltaic panels will actually produce, but nevertheless, the International Design Center is a triumph of integrated solar design. It is a solar-powered, industrial-sized building that illustrates cutting-edge green building design in the real world and promises to foster the future of similar designs. This is especially important in a relatively young field of design, where many existing plans like that of LIN are still relegated to computer models and the wishful thinking of ambitious architects.

Via archiCentral

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