EPFL's 'Sun Shines on Architecture' Exhibition Highlights Solar Energy Integration in Building Design

The EPFL Campus in Lausanne, Switzerland, is currently hosting the 'Sun Shines on Architecture' exhibition as part of the Solar Biennale. The exhibition, located at the Archizoom gallery, showcases diverse architectural approaches to harnessing solar energy. From prehistoric sundial-like structures such as the pyramid at Chichen Itza to modern photovoltaic installations, the exhibition explores the evolution of solar architecture. Key examples include the Crystal Palace, designed for maximum natural light, and the rotating Villa Girasole. The Dover Sun House, a pioneering solar-heated home from 1948, is also featured. Modern projects like the Odeillo Solar Furnace, Rolf Disch's Heliotrope, and the Hirzenbach Housing Estate revamp demonstrate the increasing sophistication and integration of solar technology in architecture. The exhibition emphasizes the importance of solar energy as an intrinsic element in both new constructions and renovations, addressing the challenges of global warming.