Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22 – coLLab team project

The Solar Decathlon is one of the largest university-based competitions bringing forth innovative and inspiring ideas for sustainable building and living. At the Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22 in Wuppertal, Germany, 16 teams of different nationalities exhibited their eco-friendly house concepts. The German team coLLab, from the University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart, developed a modular extension project for a building on their campus and presented a 1:1 scale model consisting of 4 units. As the main element of their creation, the students imagine a kind of double skin covering both the extension and the existing building and which integrates ASCA^® solar modules.

The use of ASCA^® solutions meets two objectives: produce renewable energy and improve the comfort of the inhabitants. Indeed, the modules filter the sun's rays and provide shade within the building. The students optimized the size and placement of the modules by running simulations on energy needs, interior temperature and sunlight conditions. Lightweight, hexagonal ASCA^® modules of various sizes are integrated into the metal mesh covering the building's recycled wood façade, creating an aesthetic pattern on the building that changes throughout the day.