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HSLU and NEST: From PV module to design object

On building envelopes, there is basically enough space for energy generation. But a photovoltaic façade comes to mind for very few. Textile design students have therefore created PV modules as design objects, which were presented online and publicly in February 2021 and awarded a prize. The winning project will be installed on the façade of the NEST building on the Empa campus in summer 2021.

In a two-week block event, students and lecturers from the Department of Design and Art worked with lecturers from the Department of Engineering and Architecture to design PV modules for Empa and Eawag's modular research and innovation building NEST in Dübendorf. The designs simulate PV modules in a new guise of colors, patterns and motifs, and how they could be visually integrated into the NEST research and innovation building of Empa and Eawag in Dübendorf.

In this interdisciplinary collaboration, innovations emerged from the transfer between technical research, design education and the involvement of the general public. This enables innovative building and energy technologies to reach the market more quickly.

online presentation and award

Online presentation and award

Lynn Balli convinced the jury with her design "Glasklar". This will be implemented at NEST in the summer. The winner of the online voting was Florence Schöb. With her design "Vernetzt", she convinced a majority (18 percent) of the approximately 120 participants and thus won a sample of her PV module design. Very close behind her with 16 percent of the votes, Jodie Schulthess took second place in the online voting. 

Winning design by Lynn Balli, visualized on the NEST building
Details from the designs of the winning project by Lynn Balli
Repeated design by Florence Schöb, winner of the public voting prize
Visualization of Florence Schöb's design (winner of the public voting prize) on the NEST building
Visualization of the design by Florence Schöb (winner of the public voting prize)
Visualization of the design by Hanna Egger on the NEST building
Repeated designs by Hanna Egger
Visualization of the design by Hanna Egger
Visualization of the design by Jodie Schulthess
Visualization of Jodie Schulthess' design on the NEST building
Color tests on glass
Visualization of the design by Laurène Affolter on the NEST building
Visualization of the designs by Laurène Affolter
Snapshot from the studio
Visualization of Laura Schor's design on the NEST building
Single PV module designed by Laura Schor
Snapshot from the studio
Visualization of Laura Schwyter's design on the NEST building
Repeated designs for PV modules by Laura Schwyter
Color rows on front glass of a PV module
Visualization of Olivia Brentini's design on the NEST building
Visualizations of the designs by Olivia Brentini
Visualization of Lina Brunekreeft's design on the NEST building
Color palette for the front glasses in various translucencies
Visualization of Sonja Locher's design on the NEST building
Visualization of Sonja Locher's designs on a building
Snapshot from the studio

Lecturers and assistants

Participants

Lynn Balli
Florence Schöb
Laurène Affolter
Olivia Brentini
Lina Brunekreeft
Hanna Egger
Sonja Locher
Laura Schor
Jodie Schulthess
Laura Schwyter
EMPA

NEST is the modular research and innovation building of Empa and Eawag. At NEST, new technologies, materials and systems are tested, researched, further developed and validated under real conditions. Close cooperation with partners from research, industry and the public sector means that innovative construction and energy technologies reach the market more quickly. NEST contributes to making the use of resources and energy more sustainable and more cycle-oriented.