The Solares Direktgewinnhaus is a five-story timber building designed to operate without a conventional heating system. It uses passive solar gains, natural materials, and cradle-to-cradle principles. Highlights include compact design, energy storage through thermal mass, and integration of work and living spaces.
location
status
typology
project
Zweisimmen CH
completed
office + residential
new construction
Photos: N11 Architekten / Sascha Schär
Plans: N11 Architekten
Project
New construction of a passive residential and commercial building without heating in the alpine region of Zweisimmen.
Energy consulting: Energiebüro Hanimann Zweisimmen CH
Earth construction consulting: Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH Schlins AT
Year of construction
2014
Construction method
Timber construction
Building type
Office and residential building
Floor area (SIA)
520 m2
Volume (SIA)
1523 m3
The Solares Direktgewinnhaus is a five-story timber building in Zweisimmen, designed to showcase sustainable construction. Built by an architect and an engineer as both a home and workspace for themselves, the design balances compact efficiency with innovative density, featuring a pentagonal turret that optimizes space vertically.
The building operates without controlled ventilation or conventional heating. Instead, solar gains, body heat, and electronic devices provide warmth, while a rooftop photovoltaic system generates clean energy. The solid wood walls, constructed without metal dowels, serve both as structural support and insulation, eliminating the need for additional layers. The rough-sawn wooden façade integrates the building into its surroundings while maintaining a contemporary architectural language.
With minimal gray energy use, passive solar heating, and cradle-to-cradle principles, the project exemplifies a low-impact, future-oriented approach to sustainable living.
