Shaping the Future with BIPV

The polygonal freestanding structure replaces a former parking deck and connects the surrounding buildings – from the police headquarters to Villa Roller – into a harmonious ensemble. Through its location and form, the new building defines the entrance to the city centre and strengthens the public realm. The newly created Alte Post Campus forms a vibrant hub that links administration, city and public life, exemplifying the concept of compact, resource-efficient densification.

Inside, a clearly structured three-zone concept translates the ambition for openness and transparency into a functional layout. A light-filled foyer forms the central core, flanked by consultation and working areas that flow seamlessly into one another. The folded façade geometry brings daylight deep into the interior, creating bright, communicative work environments. Structurally, the building combines a stabilising concrete core with upper floors in timber hybrid construction and recycled concrete. In the base area, brick ensures robustness and a human scale, while the rhythmically structured timber-aluminium façade of the upper levels conveys lightness and warmth. The sustainable concept is further enhanced by a DGNB-compliant, easily separable construction system, as well as rainwater management with retention roofs and cisterns that allow water reuse for irrigation.

The façade with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) forms both the visual and energy-related heart of the building. Unlike add-on modules, the PV elements are fully embedded in the architectural design. Satin-finished glass minimises reflections, while the bronze-coloured tone – a specially developed blend using UV-permeable coating – creates a matte, shimmering surface. Depending on weather conditions, its appearance shifts between warm bronze and cool grey, adding depth and vibrancy to the building volume. The harmonious coordination of module colour and aluminium profiles ensures that the technology appears fully integrated into the architecture. Through both roof and façade photovoltaics, the building covers a significant portion of its own energy demand, demonstrating how energy generation – and thus CO₂ reduction – can be seamlessly incorporated into design.