Sun Shines on Architecture

Capturing, filtering, reflecting or protecting: the interactions of the sun with architecture and with our territories are many and varied. The sun is at once a source of precious energy, of unwanted heat, and of light. In the face of global warming, these technical and poetic challenges are getting a real update — illustrated in the exhibition by work from EPFL laboratories, a cartography of contemporary Swiss solar buildings and the resurgence of historical examples.

This exhibition is part of the Solar Biennale 2: Soleil·s organised by the mudac.

The relationship between architecture and the sun has profoundly shaped the design and construction of buildings for millennia. Yet, the integration of solar energy into the built environment has remained rather marginal to this day.

Although the sun has always been there as a source of energy and beauty, should we wait for fossil fuels to run out before turning to it? The manifesto of the Solar Biennale declares: its time has finally come, but it is not enough to simply plug the sun into an outlet. A holistic approach to solar design must be embraced.

The current “solar movement” rethinks architecture and urban planning on a global scale, placing the sun at the center of our concerns. The exhibition explores how this energy source, whether used passively or actively, becomes a true architectural element, benefiting any renovation or new construction project.

Opening: 19.3.2025, 5 pm