‘Breidablikkgården’ in the small coastal town Haugesund in south-western Norway is a great example of urban renewal done right. Located in a small town's central location, the project has successfully achieved a dynamic expression in its façade while also being a perfect example of how urban renewal can uplift a city. The design stands out, attracting attention to itself, while simultaneously blending in with the city's overall aesthetic. The project's success lies in its ability to both capture attention and complement the existing cityscape.
The SolarLab facade panels on the east and west sides of the building are angled towards the south to increase energy production and are also placed to create some shade in the offices. This, along with the use of screen curtains, reduces the need for cooling and saves energy.
The facade can produce around 100,000 kWh per year, which will cover a significant portion of the building's energy needs. The project illustrates how year-round high sun is not a necessity for solar power to be effective – placing the solar panels on the facades instead of the roofs makes them usable even though the buildings are located in areas of the world with low-rising sun during the long winters.
