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Reference Project

HiLo Unit at Nest

Dübendorf, Switzerland

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Project Overview

The NEST, located on the Empa campus in Dübendorf, Switzerland, is an incubation and demonstration facility for “Next Evolution in Sustainable Building Technologies”. The HiLo unit, short for “High Efficiency - Low Emissions” showcases the future of sustainable architecture and highly energy efficient technologies like the first of its kind climate-adaptive Solskin facade system. The architecture of HiLo has been inspired by medieval designs but was executed using cutting edge modern  computational design methods. HiLo integrates smart building systems, including the Solskin climate-adaptive facade and efficient indoor climate technologies to optimize the energy efficiency of cooling, heating, ventilation and lighting. Since its construction in 2021, the unit serves as a living lab for testing of these energy-efficient, low-emission construction methods, blending high performance with sustainability in real-world conditions.
As the first permanent application of the Solskin system, the HiLo unit has demonstrated its effectiveness in transitioning projects such as Solskin from research to practical use, helping them to gain user acceptance and presenting them to the public. The office space at the HiLo unit features a fully glazed facade equipped with 30 thin-film PV modules, which constantly adjust their position to maximize solar energy output. This innovation optimizes energy efficiency, and design, representing a key advancement in sustainable construction.

POWER IN NUMBERS

1

MWh

ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS

0.2

t Co2

ANNUAL EMISSION
SAVINGS

Context

Solskin was conceived as a cutting-edge solution to transform the way buildings manage energy and enhance occupant comfort. Early testing at ETH Zurich confirmed the system’s potential, but its true effectiveness needed to be proven in actual building. To achieve this, the team turned to the HiLo unit at NEST, a pioneering testbed for sustainable building technologies, where "Solskin" could be Rich ContentProject assessed in a live, occupied environment.

Solskin Implementation

The installation of Solskin on the facade of the HiLo unit marked its first real-world application. The prefabricated Solskin unit was elevated to the facade using a mobile crane and was swiftly installed and commissioned.
Moving beyond lab tests, the moving facade system equipped with PV demonstrated its ability to adapt to real-time environmental changes.

PROJECT DATA

Project:

HiLo Unit at Nest

Location:

Dübendorf, Switzerland

Investor:

Empa

Architect:

ROK Architekten

Project Type:

New Building
Institutional

SOLSKIN SPECIFICATIONS

Product type:

ETH - Solskin prototype

Integration:

Smart Facade

Modul Type:

CIGS thin-film

Solskin Surface:

9
m2

Number of  Modules:

30

PROJECT STATUS / TIMELINE

In operation since October 2021

Project Results

By regulating sunlight and optimizing energy harvesting through operational data and user feedback, Solskin seamlessly integrates into daily building operations. The insights gained from this testing phase are being utilized to refine the system, paving the way for broader implementation in future energy-efficient building.
Initial insights into the HiLo unit performance strongly supports Solskin’s effectiveness as an energy efficiency technology and highlights its robustness to environmental conditions with minimal maintenance required so far.

TECHNICAL EXECUTION

Unfortunately, no execution details are available.

We are happy to assist you with planning Solskin systems. Please contact us using the contact form.

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