Architecture

Heliotrope creator sets sights on international expansion

Heliotrope creator sets sights on international expansion
The Heliotrope power house dominates the landscape at the foot of the Black Forest
The Heliotrope power house dominates the landscape at the foot of the Black Forest
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Examining the Heliotrope's wooden central column
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Examining the Heliotrope's wooden central column
Also in Freiburg is the 59 home solar settlement where all of the houses produce more energy than they use
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Also in Freiburg is the 59 home solar settlement where all of the houses produce more energy than they use
Shot of the kitchen area in Rolf Disch's Heliotrope home
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Shot of the kitchen area in Rolf Disch's Heliotrope home
Looking out over the vineyards from the Heliotrope in Freiburg
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Looking out over the vineyards from the Heliotrope in Freiburg
The open plan study, dining area and kitchen of Rolf Disch's Heliotrope home
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The open plan study, dining area and kitchen of Rolf Disch's Heliotrope home
Column in place, now the external structure and floors are added
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Column in place, now the external structure and floors are added
The solar sail on top of the Heliotrope consists of monocrystalline silicon solar cells and rotates on a dual-axis
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The solar sail on top of the Heliotrope consists of monocrystalline silicon solar cells and rotates on a dual-axis
The Heliotrope showroom at Hansgrohe's plant in Offenburg
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The Heliotrope showroom at Hansgrohe's plant in Offenburg
The Heliotrope's solar sail moves independently of the main structure to make the most of the sun's energy
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The Heliotrope's solar sail moves independently of the main structure to make the most of the sun's energy
The Heliotrope power house dominates the landscape at the foot of the Black Forest
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The Heliotrope power house dominates the landscape at the foot of the Black Forest
Inspection balconies outside incorporate sunshades to help prevent seasonal overheating
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Inspection balconies outside incorporate sunshades to help prevent seasonal overheating
The house is designed to rotate around the column at a rate of about 15º per hour, following the path of the sun
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The house is designed to rotate around the column at a rate of about 15º per hour, following the path of the sun
The roof of the Heliotrope
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The roof of the Heliotrope
At the base of the central column
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At the base of the central column
The Heliotrope regulates heat entering the home by facing its triple-glazed windows in the sun's direction in winter and pointing its insulated rear sunward during the warmer summer months
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The Heliotrope regulates heat entering the home by facing its triple-glazed windows in the sun's direction in winter and pointing its insulated rear sunward during the warmer summer months
A sketch of the plans for the Heliotrope Hotel
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A sketch of the plans for the Heliotrope Hotel
A spiral staircase runs up the central column and provides access to the Heliotrope's upper living space
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A spiral staircase runs up the central column and provides access to the Heliotrope's upper living space
Hanna Lehmann and Rolf Disch relaxing in the Heliotrope
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Hanna Lehmann and Rolf Disch relaxing in the Heliotrope
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If someone asks you to describe a solar power plant you'd likely look to convey an image of row upon row of sun-soaking panels pointing skyward. It's doubtful that the first thought to pop into your head would be of someone's home, unless of course you've already witnessed the likes of the Heliotrope. Sited at the foot of the Black Forest in Germany, this magnificent cylindrical power house is the creation of solar architect Rolf Disch and is the world's first home to produce more energy than it consumes. As the architect announces plans to take his PlusEnergy vision to a global audience, we take a closer look at his first creation.

Towering above the homes and vineyards that surround it stands the Heliotrope home of solar architect Rolf Disch. Whilst a few of the other buildings in the southern German city of Freiburg sport the odd rooftop solar panel to offset some of the spiraling energy costs, using freely available energy from the sun is central to the very design of the Heliotrope. And just like the flora that inspired its name, this solar tower actually follows the path of the sun as it makes its way across the sky.

Inspection balconies outside incorporate sunshades to help prevent seasonal overheating
Inspection balconies outside incorporate sunshades to help prevent seasonal overheating

The main structure of the house is built onto a central load-bearing wooden column that's 47.5 feet (14.5m) high and has a diameter of 9.5 feet (2.9m). The house is designed to rotate around the column at a rate of about 15 degrees per hour, following the path of the sun. It regulates heat entering the home by facing its triple-glazed windows in the sun's direction in winter and pointing its insulated rear sunward during the warmer summer months. Inspection balconies outside also incorporate sunshades to help prevent seasonal overheating.

Snaking around the balconies are special railings that double up as solar thermal tube collectors and provide hot water for the building's domestic needs and supply storage tanks for space heating. As heat from the sun pours through the Heliotrope's windows, it is stored and used by the floor heating system and a geo-thermal heat exchange system makes the most of controlled ventilated air. There's also a low-temperature ceiling radiation system that helps keep rooms nice and toasty when needed.

The solar sail on top of the Heliotrope consists of monocrystalline silicon solar cells and rotates on a dual-axis
The solar sail on top of the Heliotrope consists of monocrystalline silicon solar cells and rotates on a dual-axis

On the building's roof sits the impressive solar sail. It's made up of highly-efficient monocrystalline silicon solar cells and is able to independently rotate on a two-axis system, allowing for both horizontal and vertical adjustment for optimum tracking. This design is said to achieve an energy gain of between 30 and 40 percent over conventional fixed-panel units.

Access to the 590+ square feet (180m²) of living space in the upper structure is via a spiral staircase that winds its way up the central column. And there's even more space on offer to the occupants in the base structure. Other pro-environment features of the design include a dry compost toilet and a grey-water well, where the home's waste water is combined with rain water for re-use.

A spiral staircase runs up the central column and provides access to the Heliotrope's upper living space
A spiral staircase runs up the central column and provides access to the Heliotrope's upper living space

Unless you're already aware of the Heliotrope, it may surprise you to learn that Disch's home was completed in 1994, at a time when green architecture was still in its infancy. It was the world's first home to produce more energy than it consumes and in spite of its age, continues to lead the field in energy efficiency and solar architecture technology. In fact it is said to produce up to five times more energy than it consumes, with the surplus fed into the public power grid.

Of course, there's a bit of give and take in operation here – the Heliotrope supplies surplus power to the grid but draws from the grid when solar power is not sufficient to operate the power plant. This is considered a more efficient and green method than using batteries to store and draw, which may contain varying degrees of nasty heavy metals.

The Heliotrope showroom at Hansgrohe's plant in Offenburg
The Heliotrope showroom at Hansgrohe's plant in Offenburg

The Heliotrope template has been used to build an energy-producing showroom at Hansgrohe's plant in Offenburg, the solar architect has also produced plans for a large hotel and even a special exhibition hall for the Shanghai EXPO 2010.

About five minutes away from Disch's home is a solar settlement that uses many of the technologies found in the Heliotrope but incorporated into a less futuristic-looking and more familiar form. Hidden from view behind a 410 ft (125m) long, five story high commercial building are 59 two and three story townhouses. All of the buildings in the settlement have large photovoltaic roofs and produce more energy than they consume. And now the solar architect is looking to expand his PlusEnergy vision beyond Germany.

Also in Freiburg is the 59 home solar settlement where all of the houses produce more energy than they use
Also in Freiburg is the 59 home solar settlement where all of the houses produce more energy than they use

Disch believes that U.S. states like Hawaii, Florida and California – which already have systems in place to financially encourage the use of renewable energy – would benefit from the roll-out of homes based on his proven vision. Announcing an international push outwards, Disch's company said: "PlusEnergy is a dual solution which exceeds the highest ecological standards and puts money back in the pockets of owners. Rolf Disch has proved that ecology and economy, function and form can be happily combined to bring double profits: for investors and the environment."

View gallery - 18 images
6 comments
6 comments
bio-power jeff
i want to live in one.
Fabian Rousset
Annual consumption of 20kWh? Is that right? Is that after you take out what it produces? The article makes it seem that the entire house produces 100kWh a year (5 times the annual consumption of 20kWh) impossible considering the amount of solar panels on the roof. I think there was a typo in there. 1kwh = 1 100 watt bulb on for 10 hours..so with 20 kWh annual consumption you would be using less energy than the equivalent of 20 100 watt bulbs on for a total of 10 hours. I bet you it takes more than that to just spin the entire house.
Ed
This is nice and all, but the owner\'s going to need to spend all of his profits in buying curtains!
windykites
My house uses 35kW per day. I must be doing something wrong! My last month\'s bill was £131
Bill Bennett
My home uses 17 KWH per day and that is with 1 \'putor running 24/7, electric clothes dryer, my \'putor on for five hours a day 3 people in the household, YES! all of my lighting is LED, LED\'s dropped my bill so much that the pay back is almost done yes two year payback from changing from CFLs to LEDS
Terry Penrose
Looks comfortable and modern inside, I really like it.
But all that doesnt really matter, including how efficiant it is because its dog ugly on the outside and if thats not addressed, it\'ll fail.