The House of Architects located in Stuttgart is a building culture forum and is the Chamber of Architects’ headquarters in Baden-Württemberg. The entire glazed foyer has been modified. Some leaky panes formed fog in the glass through condensation. Constant maintenance is needed for the sun blinds.
The inside of the foyer links the interior and exterior. The different levels of dimming in EControl's roof and façade glazing are easily recognizable in the picture.
Cost-effective cooling and heating, glare-free view of the outside, optimal lighting conditions were the complex needs to be met to modernize the building. The proprietors chose Germany-based EControl for electrochromic triple-pane solar control glass, which is dimmable. Hence, the transparency and solar factor were allowed to be altered according to the solar irradiation level. This avoids interior and exterior shading.
A group of three structures namely administration building, event hall and living quarters were designed and constructed by Architect Michael Weindel. The event hall is round and is specially built in the middle. The hall and the administration building are joined by a filigree and transparent glazed foyer.
The architects' office Pauls secured the contract to renovate the glazed foyer, as there were some leaky glass panes that formed into fog on the ceiling. Standardized double pane solar control glazing was not used and hence the building became too cold during winter and overheated in summer. Architectural maintenance, decreasing the cost of energy to a moderate level and increasing the comfort levels are the objectives of the contract. Normal solar control glass was not suggested as it allows very little light during cloudy days.
EControl’s electrochromic solar control glass was proposed by the architect after considering all the parameters. Dimmable panes allow the actual light intensity to adapt the transparency and the solar factor. Photochromic sunglasses will avoid further unnecessary protection to eyes. EControl’s new triple-pane glass will insulate very well against loss of heat.
Guttendörfer, the façade construction firm, conducted the entire modernisation during the summer of 2011.
Source: https://www.denic.de/en/