The Heliotrope
Heliotrope plants have blossoms or leaves, which turn themselves with the rotation of the sun. That is also exactly what the Heliotrope can do!
The Heliotrope was the first home in the world, that produced more energy than it expends: the energy consumption is emission-free, CO2-neutral and 100% regenerative. That was the starting point for the further development into the Rolf Disch Plusenergiehaus® – and a multiple prize winning milestone for climate protection in building.
HELIOTROP - The Rotatable Solar House
The experience of living rotating completely around the sun
(PDF, 8 pages, english)
Ecology
The cylindrical building has on one side triple-paned thermal insulated glass (U-value 0.5) and is on the other side highly thermally insulated (U-value 0.12). Exposed to the sun with the open front’s special windows, the maximum possible energy and light is let into the home. Reverse for the hot summer days, the house will turn its insulated backside to the sun, to keep the home comfortably cool.
And in addition, the optimization of ecological technology comes into the works with solar heat, earth-to-air heat exchangers, a wood pellet oven, ventilation with heat recovery, and low temperature radiant ceiling and floor heating. The collected rainwater is automatically filtered and reused. Garbage and feces is decomposed in an odorless dry composting, while the sewage water is clarified in a vegetated cascade pond in the homes’ front yard.
In these manners the building is not only perfectly aligned with sunrays for energy use and gain, rather it saves resources, it relinquishes environmentally harmful chemicals and it is integrated in the natural water cycle.
Solar Energy
On the roof of the Heliotrope you will find a large mounted photovoltaic unit. The ‘Sun Sail’ is made of 60 monocrystalline silicon modules (Siemens M 110 L), totally 54 m2 – with 6.6 kW peak output (1000 watts/m2; 25° C). Additionally affixed as balcony railings are 34.5 m2 of vacuum-solar thermal collectors, which yield high energy gains for hot water and heating.
The mounting system and rotation mechanism of the Sun Sail were completely newly developed: the panel tracks the sun throughout the day automatically and computer controlled – turning independently from the building itself – and additionally it pivots in steep and flat angled positions. The statics were measured after the finite elements method. The panel is also high-wind proof with a fivefold safety system.
Construction and Floor Plans
The Heliotrope was first designed in prefabricated modules. From a sustainability and eco-friendly standpoint, wood is the most important building material for the solar house. The 14 meter high central pillar encases the electric installation and central winding staircase. The entire skeleton structure rotates around this central pillar, which is made of spruce glue-laminated timber.
The 18-edged spiral concept continually climbs higher each living and working level, which are all linked to one another. The floor plan with split levels presents a fascinating living experience. The open floor plan can be left or segmented with internal partitions. All the main rooms are accessible by the winding steps, so that no transition rooms or hallways are necessary. There is a roof garden with a sun deck and a lookout terrace spirals around the structures shell. And gradually throughout the day you will be offered ever-new fascinating perspectives.
Heliotrope Design Possibilities
So far this architecturally unique building was built three times for very different uses. The prototype in Freiburg is the private home of its architect, Rolf Disch. In this experimental building many technologies were tested – for example, 3 heating systems were built.
The other Heliotrope projects: In Offenburg the eco-engaged company, Hangrohe, built their ‚Solar Tower’ as a spectacular visitors’ center and showroom for their products. The mobile Heliotrope for Swissbau in Basel was transferred to Hilpolstein Bayern to be used as a dental laboratory.
Plans for larger dimensions with the same basic concept have been laid out. Some examples include: a Heliotrope-Hotel, a Heliotrope management building and even a Heliotrope exhibition hall for the Shanghai EXPO 2010. The Heliotrope as Hotel, PDF
Many other uses can be offered: where private enterprise or public hands want to bid against climate change and for technology innovation. Where a formative architecture, an exclusive ambiance, a unique room atmosphere are asked – for living and working – and for our environment.
There are a lot of possibilities, because the basic concept of the rotating ‘treehouse’ is extremely variable. Get in contact with us and let’s talk about your idea!
Heliotrope plants have blossoms or leaves, which turn themselves with the rotation of the sun. That is also exactly what the Heliotrope can do!
The Heliotrope was the first home in the world, that produced more energy than it expends: the energy consumption is emission-free, CO2-neutral and 100% regenerative. That was the starting point for the further development into the Rolf Disch Plusenergiehaus® – and a multiple prize winning milestone for climate protection in building.
HELIOTROP - The Rotatable Solar House
The experience of living rotating completely around the sun
(PDF, 8 pages, english)
Ecology
The cylindrical building has on one side triple-paned thermal insulated glass (U-value 0.5) and is on the other side highly thermally insulated (U-value 0.12). Exposed to the sun with the open front’s special windows, the maximum possible energy and light is let into the home. Reverse for the hot summer days, the house will turn its insulated backside to the sun, to keep the home comfortably cool.
And in addition, the optimization of ecological technology comes into the works with solar heat, earth-to-air heat exchangers, a wood pellet oven, ventilation with heat recovery, and low temperature radiant ceiling and floor heating. The collected rainwater is automatically filtered and reused. Garbage and feces is decomposed in an odorless dry composting, while the sewage water is clarified in a vegetated cascade pond in the homes’ front yard.
In these manners the building is not only perfectly aligned with sunrays for energy use and gain, rather it saves resources, it relinquishes environmentally harmful chemicals and it is integrated in the natural water cycle.
Photovoltaic installation
On the roof of the Heliotrope you will find a large mounted photovoltaic unit. The ‘Sun Sail’ is made of 60 monocrystalline silicon modules (Siemens M 110 L), totally 54 m2 – with 6.6 kW peak output (1000 watts/m2; 25° C). Additionally affixed as balcony railings are 34.5 m2 of vacuum-solar thermal collectors, which yield high energy gains for hot water and heating.
The mounting system and rotation mechanism of the Sun Sail were completely newly developed: the panel tracks the sun throughout the day automatically and computer controlled – turning independently from the building itself – and additionally it pivots in steep and flat angled positions. The statics were measured after the finite elements method. The panel is also high-wind proof with a fivefold safety system.
Construction and Floor Plans
The Heliotrope was first designed in prefabricated modules. From a sustainability and eco-friendly standpoint, wood is the most important building material for the solar house. The 14 meter high central pillar encases the electric installation and central winding staircase. The entire skeleton structure rotates around this central pillar, which is made of spruce glue-laminated timber.
The 18-edged spiral concept continually climbs higher each living and working level, which are all linked to one another. The floor plan with split levels presents a fascinating living experience. The open floor plan can be left or segmented with internal partitions. All the main rooms are accessible by the winding steps, so that no transition rooms or hallways are necessary. There is a roof garden with a sun deck and a lookout terrace spirals around the structures shell. And gradually throughout the day you will be offered ever-new fascinating perspectives.
Heliotrope-Hotel Schloss Wartenstein
So far this architecturally unique building was built three times for very different uses. The prototype in Freiburg is the private home of its architect, Rolf Disch. In this experimental building many technologies were tested – for example, 3 heating systems were built.
The other Heliotrope projects: In Offenburg the eco-engaged company, Hangrohe, built their ‚Solar Tower’ as a spectacular visitors’ center and showroom for their products. The mobile Heliotrope for Swissbau in Basel was transferred to Hilpolstein Bayern to be used as a dental laboratory.
Plans for larger dimensions with the same basic concept have been laid out. Some examples include: a Heliotrope-Hotel, a Heliotrope management building and even a Heliotrope exhibition hall for the Shanghai EXPO 2010. The Heliotrope as Hotel, PDF
Many other uses can be offered: where private enterprise or public hands want to bid against climate change and for technology innovation. Where a formative architecture, an exclusive ambiance, a unique room atmosphere are asked – for living and working – and for our environment.
There are a lot of possibilities, because the basic concept of the rotating ‘treehouse’ is extremely variable. Get in contact with us and let’s talk about your idea!
Panorama to the outside
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