The Internatinal SolarCenter - preparing the way for SolarPolis Berlin - EXPO 2000

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CONTENTS of INTRODUCTION 

• Project goals
• Agenda 21
• Goals in the area of economic policy and economic structure
• Sitet
• The architectural concept
• Pro EXPO 2000
  • Project Themes

THE ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT

The International SolarCenter Berlin is an innovative and future-oriented architectural answer to our time's challenges in city and architectural planning. These challenges are met physically by the ISC building itself and on its grounds, and in content by the spectrum of services the ISC offers.

The combination of old architecture protected by monument preservation order and a new construction provides a successful example of the development of "building from existing structures”. It is an exemplary demonstration of strategies for intensifying use, securing quality, and conversion, as well as the continued use or recycling of partial systems and materials.

The basis of this approach to planning is integrative design strategies in planning construction and in the use of the grounds. Overarching architectural and technical concepts will set the future standards for architectural planning, logistics, and waste disposal:

• low-energy construction and rational use of energy
• natural ventilation strategies and passive fresh air convection
• optimized use of daylight in the new building and in the old construction with the use and space program, building process-control technology, and solar control toward reducing the burden of cooling
• power grid-connected block-type thermal power stations and photovoltaic facilities (solar facade) for solar-electric ventilation and lighting and as a decentralized solar "recharger”
• passive solar optimization of the architectural system using the construction in an overall thermal concept (storage masses as a conditioning regulative for room climate)
• building process-control technology to optimize and document the thermal-energetic and daylight-exploiting technological concepts, as well as to make use of internal burdens
• setting and adhering to energy norm values to limit the specific primary energy requirement in the areas of heating, cooling, hot water supply, and electric power
• construction-technological and user-oriented strategies to reduce the amount of space needed for parking.
  

The functions and effects of all the building's construction principles and technical systems will be displayed as part of an exhibition and presentation concept that places special emphasis on making the physical and technical effects understandable for a broad spectrum of the building's users and visitors.

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PRO EXPO 2000

The International SolarCenter excellently fulfills the content of the criteria catalogue for the decentralized EXPO 2000 projects in Berlin because...

1. it documents the innovative, exemplary character of the overarching motto "Man-Nature-Technology” convincingly with its service offerings and lastingly with a building concept that will make it a facility designed to function for decades.
2. the International SolarCenter implements novel approaches, never before developed this extensively, to solutions for the rational and renewable use of energy: In the breadth of offerings as well as in the depth of elaboration, our age's issues of energy and the environment are presented holistically in their functional context and are mediated to the public with an eye to quality as well as quantity.
3. the project is oriented explicitly toward the demand profile of the UN-AGENDA 21 for Sustainable Development (see "21 Bridges to the Solar Age”). The International SolarCenter is conceived as a long-term focus for the problems and solutions of solar-ecological technology, energy, and the reduction of burdens to the environmental.
4. the ISC's project goal is to address the global topics of CO₂ emission reduction, energy conservation, and the use of renewable energy on the regional and international levels. Beyond that, as a prototype of building and use strategies as well as of energy-ecological solutions, it will serve as a model for other construction projects, other regions, and other countries. Thus, a global network of cooperation and communication will be initiated and further developed.
5. the International SolarCenter is an open house for the specialized field and the interested public, and will also long offer attractive events, services, and opportunities for use. Its performance makes it an institution of concepts pointing the way to the future.
6. the project supports the intentions of the Federal State of Berlin to develop into the solar capital of Germany; it thus also serves Berlin's self-presentation as a State on the EXPO grounds by providing internationally pioneering impulses to secure the future.
7. the project is independently organized and implemented by the project organizers, in cooperation with the investor and supported by the state, federal, and EU funds.
8. the International SolarCenter is a long-term contribution to securing the energy-ecological future and, throughout the life of the building, will fulfill a role as an architectural and conceptual model for the next century.
9. the ISC takes up the following central topics, implementing them as a pioneering model:

CONTENTS

PROJECT THEMES

living and working:

• expense-, space-, and energy-saving construction in urban and architectural planning
• low-energy construction, rational energy use, and solar-ecological building strategies
• natural ventilation concepts and optimized use of daylight for the non-residential parts of the building
• holistic, ecologically-oriented service through consulting, planning, service, and product market

environment and development:

• technology transfer between East and West and between North and South
• an international cooperation site for development projects toward reducing environmental burdens and the rational and renewable use of energy
• the demonstration and further development of innovative solar-technological components and systems as well as materials, products, methods, and services

communication and information:

• comprehensive specialized consulting on all questions of rational and regenerable energy use
• worldwide integration of services and information via Internet
• a permanent facility for the specialized field and the general public
• the establishment and cultivation of a mediotheque

leisure and mobility:

• the solar experience area for children, young people, and families with didactically-optimized displays and experimental play areas as a teaching and learning site for environmentally-oriented experiences
• solar sports events on land, in the air, and on the water (SolarMobile, solar aircraft, solar boats) to intensify international dialogue on the theme of "Man-Nature-Technology” with the emphasis on mobility-environment-energy
• rental office for SolarMobiles and solar boats

education and culture:

• advanced education and qualification in cooperation with the existing solar school "SolarSchule Berlin”
• the permanent exhibition of qualified technical products in support of the overarching consulting program
• temporary exhibitions including solar art forums and events

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