Colt Switzerland                                                                                                                PDF (190 KB)

Blue glass louvres at Eawag's Forum Chriesbach, Switzerland  

Eawag is a Swiss-based aquatic research institute committed to an ecological, economical and socially responsible management of water. 

Its Forum Chriesbach building in Dubendorf, Switzerland, represents a unique combination of functionality, aesthetics and functionality. The building has become a symbol of energy efficiency and has won several prizes for sustainable design.

Colt designed and supplied a gleaming blue vertical glass louvre system at Eawag's new building, which creates a striking impact as well as being a contributor to the building's "green" credentials.

The building is concealed behind its 3,500m² glass louvred façade, which completely surrounds the building like a second skin. Each of the 1,232 louvre blades measures 1000 x 2800mm. Depending on daylight levels and the temperature, the intelligently-controlled glass louvres either shade the interior or direct the sun into the building. 

The appearance of the façade changes with weather, time and season. By night the louvres appear almost transparent when viewed from the outside, and appear like curtains when viewed from the inside.

The active louvre façade is able to increase comfort levels and reduce energy costs, by 
                     - providing the ideal levels of daylight for the people inside
                     - reducing the risk of overheating
                     - utilising passive solar energy in winter by allowing the sun's rays to pass through.

The transparency of the louvres and their control routines are essential for the achievement of these requirements. The louvres are coloured and fritted in order to provide effective solar control and low heat transfer when the louvres are in shadowing mode.

The specification of the frit and colour of the louvres was established in Colt's laboratory. After thorough testing of prototypes with different shades of blue, the louvres which were selected have a light blue 25% ceramic frit to optimise the levels of daylight when in shading mode.

Client: Eawag & Empa, Dübendorf, BaFA Bauten Forschungsanstalten

Architect: Bob Gysin + Partner BGP Architekten, Zürich

Contractor: Implenia Generalunternehmung AG, Dietlikon

Facade Consultant: Mebatech AG, Baden