Sonnenschiff (Solar Ship)

The Sun Ship (Das Sonnenschiff) is a small community that is run entirely by solar energy. It was built in 2004 in Freiburg im Breisgau's renowned Vauban quarter. Sonnenschiff was designed by architect Rolf Disch, who also built the Heliotrope, and generates four times more energy than it uses.

This steel structured construction is called the Sun Ship as its skyline reminds the observer of a freight ship.

Its climatic design allows it to stay cool in the summer and store heat in the winter.

The groundfloor is used for high-end retail and commercial space. The next three floors are used as office and commercial space, while nine penthouses on its rooftop offer residential space (112 to 300 sq. meters). This unique integration of retail, commercial and residential space, all with a carbon-free footprint and a positive energy balance demonstrate the superior quality of Rolf Disch Solar Architecture.

Apart from the nine penthouses, the Sun Ship houses several companies such as high-end supermarket Alnatura, a DM drug store and such institutions as Ökostrom and the non-profit Öko-Institut.

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Wikipedia