Architectural competition for students

After three successful experiences, the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST) of the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) organizes a new competition for students in architecture, called “Sustainable is beautiful”.

This new edition aims at designing one ore more residential building(s) on a real site located on the municipal territory of the City of Ecublens (VD). Entitled ACTIVE HOUSING, the competition is organized with support from the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF (National Research Programme NRP70), the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swissolar and the City of Ecublens.

While seeking a consistent, harmonious integration within the site, the project will aim at offering qualitative housings in respect of typology and appropriation by users. It will best take into account high requirements in terms of energy efficiency, photovoltaic production and architectural expression by combining passive and active strategies.

The proposition will specifically integrate the “Advanced Active Façades” (AAF) concept, developed in the framework of the PV 2050 research project, part of the NRP 70 „Energy Turnaround“ of the SNSF. This novel construction system for low-carbon, active façades was designed by the LAST in collaboration with CSEM’s PV Center and H.Glass. The interdisciplinary approach is based on the consideration of multiple objectives, in particular the maximisation of the potential for architectural integration, the prefabrication of elements, a low environmental impact and an increased efficiency in photovoltaic technology.

Chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Rey, the jury consists of representatives of EPFL, SIA and the City of Ecublens, as well as sustainability and photovoltaics experts and architects from professional practice. The jury will have a total amount of CHF 10’000.- to be awarded to the winning project and to any mentions, of which CHF 9000.- financed by SNSF and a City of Ecublens Special Prize of CHF 1000.-

Open to all architecture students at EPFL, this competition is conceived to accelerate knowledge transfer between a research project on active façades integrating innovative photovoltaic technology and architectural design processes.

Sophie Lufkin, Scientist, EPFL