Press Release: Studio Formwork has just released the designs for a lightweight inflatable solar skin.
This SOlar skIN is made of lightweight inflatable polymer and foam tubing that is 2 1/2 feet long and 1 1/2 feet wide. The panel has a solar mirror parabolic ellipse collector on the inner tube of the inflatable polymer skin. The top is made of translucent polymer and foam pieces that morph the shape of bones are put in place to add durability. The piece is lined on the outside with high density foam that is coated in a shiny white resin finish similar to the construction of a bicycle helmet, but the foam is slightly less rigid. The foam tubes hold the steel cables so the SOlar skIN can be put on the side of a building or on top as a tensile type structure. The skin panels fit snuggly together and seal to create a waterproof, high tech, lightweight, architecturally stimulating skin that can be used in new construction or old to enhance its visual siteline. The SOlar skIN , which is under patent production, will insulate and harness electricity for the building it skins at a fraction of the cost of solar panels. SOlar skIN is incredibly efficient, sexy and affordable.
We are currently doing renderings for those interested in seeing if the solar skin is something that would work for your building.
