Architecture studio Kennon has completed the 550 Spencer office building in Australia, forming the “first building in the country” to be powered on-site by a solar facade system.
Located in Melbourne, the office building is defined by pleated glass facades that sit atop a brick base.
Seeking to challenge current approaches to energy use in buildings, Kennon integrated 1,182 solar panels into the building’s transparent facades – effectively reducing its annual carbon emissions by 70-tonnes.
Drawing on advanced European glazing tools, Kennon worked with both local and international experts to create 550 Spencer’s intricate system.
“550 Spencer is the first building in the country to use its façade as a system for capturing on-site solar energy,” the studio said.
“By harnessing the power of sunlight, this development challenges traditional approaches to energy use, offering a glimpse of sustainable architecture where innovation and aesthetics can coexisting and unite.”
Other energy-saving strategies featured in the design include the use of solid solar panels on the north-facing facade to capture sunlight, while clear glass panels were used on the southern facade to reduce heat gain.
This strategy intends to create a comfortable environment inside the building, where decorative details include tiled floors and pleated wooden walls reminiscent of the facades.
A rooftop garden tops the structure and hosts built-in seating space wrapped by vegetation.
“With 1,182 solar panels mounted to the façade, space is created for a rooftop garden, giving occupants a green space to enjoy, inviting connection and community,” the studio said.
The studio hopes that the building will give rise to more sustainable, energy-efficient structures.
“550 Spencer Street stands as a reflection of what we can achieve collectively when design, technology and sustainability unite,” the studio said.
“It reminds us that architecture can be more than a shelter or structure, it can be a living testament to our responsibility to the planet,” it added. “It shapes a future that meets the evolving needs of society while inspiring and guiding generations to come.”
Other recently completed projects that adopt sustainable approaches include a group of off-grid holiday homes in Finland and a lake-side retreat made predominantly of recycled steel in Mexico.
Dezeen also previously rounded up ten buildings that incorporate solar panels in creative ways, featuring Google’s undulating Bay View campus built from 50,000 solar panels in the US.
The photography is by Tom Ross.
