Thermal control through a unique coloured solar curtain wall solution

This paper presents an innovative approach to generating thermal energy to control the climate of large buildings through a unique aesthetic coloured solar solution for curtain wall architecture. The paper concentrates on the practical execution of this integrated approach. It describes the different project phases for the execution of the first building project where the energy needed to power the water heating system of the building is entirely generated from the building envelop. The curtain wall’s spandrel panels consist of thermal solar collectors of a novel design, offering the aesthetic appearance of colored glass panes, opaque to the eye while being able to capture as much solar energy as a commercial solar thermal collector closed by a transparent glass pane. It allows for the first time architects to integrate renewable energy generation in the envelop of the building, offering new design perspectives without compromising the aesthetics of their architecture.