The Noble Architect Foundation®

Every two years our Nation’s Capitol becomes the judging arena for the Solar Decathlon Competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy and their supporting sponsors.  Once again, this year’s 2007 competition has brought exceptional university examples from our architectural and engineering curriculums around the world delivering a wonderful expression of their collective collaboration with their local communities.  While many articles and news casts convey the many efficient innovations and engineering features found in this year’s competition, the examination of the tipping point for our architectural community may have been neglected in the many presentations. Therefore, a special recognition is required for this defining moment or tipping point so that others can expand this architectural design milestone further.

 After four consecutive USA solar competitions, this event has now encouraged a similar European 2010 event in Madrid, Spain. At the same time, President Bush’s Solar American Initiative for 2015 has also passed with congressional approval. Secretary Bodman said. "The Solar Decathlon is a great demonstration of the ways in which technology, science and design can be blended in the production of net-zero-energy homes."  Furthermore, Germany is also building a campus with all structures providing integrated-photovoltaic power feed into their power grid in a response to climate change.

However, in 2007 this event has also recognized a German shelter as a defining moment which could become the tipping point for our architectural community.  In the design spirit of Mies van der Rohe’s 1929 Barcelona Pavilion, Technische Universität Darmstadt has presented a delightful, poetic design solution gaining top honors.   

The 2007 solar house designed and built by Technische Universität Darmstadt displayed on the National Mall.    (Photo courtesy Technische Universität Darmstadt)

Foremost in this solar competition submission is the re-establishment of “less is more” with several basic architectural design principles.  The simplicity in design application has reemerged to adapt mobility into our design vernacular.  The needs for individual openness to nature mingled with the security or privacy of enclosure have been equally incorporated. Diversity with innovation has been accommodated within this zero-energy, carbon footprint.  The harmonic, visual experience varies from a delightful calm to a delightful vitality of occupant use.  Perhaps, the benchmark provided by this small home does not display all the variables expected but it does allow for future interpretation. The solution built could generate a multiple of variables which the competition constraints could not accommodate.  Perhaps the economy of a larger envelope could provide an undulating roof or façade which would invigorate the occupants further.  However, the basic design variables of architectural collaboration have been clearly identified for the future.  Design for change by allowing delightful mobility and user adaptation.

Therefore, this global entry speaks beyond educating the general public and encourages the architectural and engineering community to design with change for the current climate change facing all nations.  All future structures should respond with thermal envelope layers that adapt to passive energy distribution, collect solar and wind energy, and allow flexibility to occupant’s interior and exterior demands for a changing lifestyle.  I speculate that the design function of “what” was deliberated at length before the function of “how” was completely applied.  Zero energy consumption in the 21^st century is our goal but the occupant’s aesthetic needs must always be integrated into the design.  This is a defining moment for future solar competitions which will be difficult to attain again, but seeking a tipping point for our architectural community will always be a constant. 

(Photo courtesy Technische Universität Darmstadt)

“Less is more” and "God is in the details"

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe