More details on microalgae façade "SolarLeaf", a Zumtobel Group Award 2014 nominee

"SolarLeaf" has been described as the world's first bioreactive façade that can help further research into algae as a potential renewable energy source. Designed by ARUP, SSC Strategic Science Consult, and Colt International, the façade was recently selected as one of 15 nominees for the prestigious Zumtobel Group Award 2014 in the award program's newest category, "Applied Innovations".

Read on for more info about the project.

"The demonstrator [of the façade, BIQ House -- which was designed by SPLITTERWERK Architects of Graz in Austria -- ] was specially designed for last year’s International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg."

"[The BIQ House] is a four-story residential building comprising 200m2 of integrated photo-bioreactors which absorb CO2 emissions while cultivating microalgae to generate biomass and heat as renewable energy resources. The environment for photosynthesis is provided by glass photobioreactors installed on the southwest and southeast elevations."

"This passive-energy house also integrates additional functionalities such as dynamic shading, thermal insulation and noise abatement, highlighting the full potential of this technology."

"Now that the technical feasibility of the system has been proven by the BIQ House the consortium is working on concepts for integrating the system on a larger scale to demonstrate the commercial benefits."

The bio-façade concept was developed by three partners: SSC Strategic Science Consult of Germany (Bioreactor Technology), the international design consultant, Arup (Concept Design, Coordination and Engineering) and Colt International (Reactor Design).

Photos courtesy of Colt International, ARUP, and SSC GmbH.