THE SUN SHIP An ecological model for the future

The Sun Ship in Freiburg, Germany - meaningful, secure, profitable 5 Foreword Rolf Disch 7 The Solar Settlement 9 The Sun Ship 11 Concept and Design 13 Technical Innovations 15 PlusEnergy 17 Location and Transportation 19 Team Sprit and Synergy 21 Floorplans and Cross-Sections 23 Offices in the Sun Ship 25 The Penthouses 27 The Sun Ship Fund 29 Awards and Prizes 31 Press Rewiew “The sun doesn‘t send us a bill – the energy revoluti- thus profit from the image and infrastructure, team on is possible.” What German journalist and activist spirit and synergy of the complex. Franz Alt thinks of as possible is actually materia- lized in the Sun Ship. The penthouses offer exclusive residence options above the roofs of the young and pulsating Vauban With sixty individually designed PlusEnergy homes, quarter, only a few minutes from Freiburg‘s center. the Freiburg Solar Settlement is Europe‘s most mo- Embedded in an artistically designed roof garden dern residential development project. PlusEnergy landscape, you are able to see out from the Black building also gains a new dimension from the Sun Forest across the Rhine valley until the Vosges. Ship, which fits optimally with the concept of the Solar Settlement. The 1st Sun Ship Fund covers the expansive com- mercial spaces of the building. After four successful In technical terms, we have come up with altoge- Freiburg Solar Funds, this is again the opportunity ther new standards. For a commercial and office for investments, return-rate security, and ecolo- building, it had never before been achieved to ge- gic ethics to be combined. With an investment in nerate maximum solar energy and at the same time trend-setting , secure solar real estate, the individu- reduce the consumption to a minimum. The result: la benefit will be reflected as a common benefit for energy is not a cost factor, rather it produces ancil- the environment and generations to come. lary income. The Sun Ship earned a variety of prizes and awards For many that seems too utopian. But just the con- for its architecture, aesthetics and economic inno- trary, we have remained realistic: because such a vation. We are proud to present to you in pictures project can only be carried out, when it fits econo- and words this built piece of the future, and we hope mically. We feel committed to the highest ecologi- to wake your interest for this project and our offer. cal, urban planning, and aesthetic standards. That enriches the value of the real estate and the attrac- Yours, tion for our renters.

The Sun Ship is now occupied by a selected ensem- ble of commercial and service companies. These Rolf Disch firms together share the belief in sustainability and CEO and Architect of the Solar Settlement A dream came true: the Schlierberg Solar Set- Today tlement in Freiburg‘s south. Completed in 2004, The Solar Settlement is the answer to three questions. today it is visited and occupied by the residents What is ecologically, solar- and energy technically feasi- of the solar terrace townhomes and penthouses, ble? What is wished for aesthetically and urban planning- by passers-by and visitors, and by the employees wise? And finally, what is economically realistic? These and customers of the firms of the impressionable questions were answered, and the innovative power of commercial complex: the Sun Ship. the design idea was quickly recognized. The community was built as a project of the EXPO 2000. From the roof gardens on the Sun Ship you can see children playing in the traffic-less, welcoming The Solar Settlement is an ensemble of multistory and streets between the color-happy homes and gar- a commercial building, the Sun Ship, with retail, clinical dens. The elegant blue roofs of the community practices, and office space, which fulfills various func- shimmer in the sun. They are made completely of tions for the solar estate as well as the equally newly built solar panels. They turn every home into a power “Vauban” quarter. Sixty solar residences divided upon plant. 11,000 m2 – including nine penthouses – with together 7,850 m2 floor space. The Sun Ship, flanking the west The Beginnings edge of the property, seals the community in with 1,200 The sun delivers 20,000 times more energy to Earth m2 of commercial space and 3,600 m2 of office space. than humans need. Shouldn‘t we use an opportuni- ty like that? For thirty years the solar architect Rolf 11,000 Square Meters of the Future Disch has again and again given new, original and Even in respect to the financing and investment options, improved answers: individual single family homes, new surfaces were scratched with the Solar Settlement smaller terraced townhouse ensembles oriented to project. There are solutions, which are ethical and ecolo- the sun, and also experimental solar automobiles gical, and which are economically profitable at the same were all created over time. time. We want to demonstrate what is possible and ne- cessary for our future, from the Sun Ship, a PlusEnergy Photovoltaic and housing technology were fur- commercial building. ther developed, and then the time for a flagship project had arrived: the Heliotrope, the world fa- From the roof gardens of the Sun Ship you see, blue and mous, cylindrical residence of the architect, which beautiful, the shimmering solar roofs of the Solar Set- physically rotates with the pattern of the sun. All tlement. Every house a solar power plant, that generates these experiences should now go towards an entire more energy than it consumes. And you can see kids pla- residential, commercial, and even urban planning ying on the pathways between the bright colored homes project ... and gardens. THE SUN SHIP 9

The Sun Ship in Freiburg / Germany – an extra- ordinary building which offers you extraordinary opportunities:

Functionally … the Sun Ship meets with the highest standards and the requirements of a variegated economic uti- lization. As a services centre for the internationally renowned Solar Settlement in Freiburg, it combines commerce and gastronomy on the ground floor, attractive office and medical practices space on the upper floors and exclusive penthouses, embe- dded into a beautiful roof garden landscape. This synthesis is already alive, it is being realised and implemented by an ensemble of sustainably mana- ged companies and institutions. With the 2nd Sun Ship Real Estate Fund (2. Sonnenschiff-Fonds), you can profit from those synergy effects.

Ecologically … the Sun Ship is a quantum leap in building technology. The Plusenergy House is our answer to the ecological challenges of the 21st centu- ry – a building that generates more energy than it consumes. The 2nd Sun Ship Real Estate Fund (2. Sonnenschiff-Fonds) is an investment into the future for yet another reason: Compared to con- se kept by the layout inside – to meaningful work, ventional property, a solid and sustainable way of to thoughtful consumption, to exclusive living in building with natural, high quality building ma- rooms that are flooded with the light of the sun. terials result in a crucial plus in terms also of va- You acquire shares of a truly unique building. lue stability. The fund building thus becomes even When there is nobody left more exclusive – and your investment helps to keep the world a good place to live in even for Economically to elevate the trivial into your grandchildren. … you profit from our great wealth of experience with five previous Freiburg Solar Funds. The buil- the poetic, then you will ding, dynamically striving forward, incorporates Aesthetically the idea of a ship – at good speed towards a solar hardly be able to speak of … the Sun Ship is a sign and signal which is percei- future. With the 2nd Sun Ship Real Estate Fund, ved far beyond the borders of Germany and even you take a stake of one of the most innovative architecture any more. of Europe. Striking and distinctive, yet elegant in buildings in Europe. Combine financial security and its outline with its charmingly cheerful layout of regularly rising gains with your personal engage- Peter Behnisch, architect colours, the very façade gives a promise – a promi- ment for a sustainable, vital future! Get on board! CONCEPT AND DESIGN 11

A t the end of the 19th century Louis Form follows function.” Only from the strict adherence prominent vertical and diagonal elements – two lift and to the necessity of economic utilization and ecological stairs towers and the “ship’s staircases” at the eastern Sullivan, one of the great Chicago aims arises the formal outline of the Sun Ship, which, in façade – interrupt the dominantly horizontal line of times of grey architectural monotony, provides a signal architects, expressed the legendary movement. for a vital future. creed: “Form follows function”. In Colour Confining This interplay in the large-scale structuring is then re- the 100 years to follow, there were The first basic decision was one of urban planning: Sin- plenished by means of scattered and serial elements ce a sheltering cordon seemed to be apt for the Solar – namely the multicoloured covers of the ventilation many styles and schools, approaches Settlement, we chose a structure that could fulfil this units. Here, “art for architecture” is not an ex post ad- of genius and wit, yet all normally function: a 125 m long, continuous sonic-block along dition. Instead,, the colour concept by the Berlin artist Merzhauser Street. This produces a secluded area of re- Erich Wiesner – called “the dyer” – was an integral part rather short-lived. But Sullivan’s word sidential houses, as well as a prominent, solitaire buil- of the scheme from the scratch. ding: the Sun Ship. Both of these together signalises remained the unchallenged leitmotif of unity and creates identification. The Ship Requirements of the renters, and self-imposed ecologi- the modern era. Especially architects … and opening cal, solar-technical aims, both of these together deter- who committed themselves to the To the north, only one public thoroughfare has been mine the formal concept of the Sun Ship. It results in a left out – and designed as a representative entrée. To cheerful façade image with manifold forms, yet without ever changing findings of science and the south a second passage, a footpath and cycle track, impairing the dynamic unity. It is the idea of a ship serves as a connection between the residential and re- which binds everything together. The head building, in technology could not get past this word creational Schlierberg area and the newly built “Vauban” its higher layout as “the bridge” of the ship, and the quarter. and followed Sullivan’s progressive rhythmically positioned penthouses with their slanting solar panel roofs on the “sun deck” – everything talks of spirit. Light energy and breakup, direction and speed. Our “Ship” now needed further steps in order to take Today, this is especially true for solar shape: To make it as attractive as possible as a services centre, we chose a continuous glass façade. For the architecture, since where else would retail stores and offices, a great impression of floating be a more indispensable obligation and transparency, of translucent airiness is created. The in- side impression is accordant: altogether light flooded orientation to technical conditions? It is rooms. no surprise, then, that it is exclusively Structuring The unity of the façade now had to be playfully dis- functional aspects that also determine solved – and again the aesthetic impulse follows the the use, form and aesthetics of the Sun functions: While the balconies, laid out over the eastern façade, together with the widely projecting fascia rat- Ship. her emphasize the horizontal structure of the Sun Ship,

Aesthetics follows function. THE TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS 13

The great progress into the solar age requires a multi- (U-value = 0.7 W/m2K, G-value = 0.6). In summer, the tude of architectural innovations. We have implemented sun rays are screened off by the overhanging roofs and the current “state of the art” of modern technology. The blinds. The light gets through the highly diaphanous house as an energetic power station, this is one aspect windows, but the long-wave heat rays are held inside – the other: to deal economically with the generated by an infrared reflection layer on the inner side of the energy and to keep it inside the building. window panes.

Vacuum insulation Ventilation system Outside walls, parapets and ventilation hatches are va- The ventilation system guarantees a permanent supply cuum insulated. This guarantees ten times the efficiency of fresh air – almost without any loss of warmth. The than with conventional materials of the same thickness. simple and highly efficient system is hidden behind the colourful, soundproofed sheathings. For summer and Activation of building mass winter, there is a ventilation device with heat recove- Building walls, ceilings and floors are in direct touch ry which keeps the inside temperature constant. The air with the inside air. Thus, a part of the heat can be stored flows through the grates on both sides of the sheathes in the mass of the building structure. In summer, the directly into the rooms. In addition, room-high shutters effect is exactly reverse, due to night cooling. can be manually opened and stay open for the cooling of the rooms during night time. Latent heat storage The inside partition walls contain additional “cooling ac- cumulators”. Those latent heat storage devices change their state of aggregation at a temperature of 23 – 26 degrees centigrade. The molecules change from solid to liquid. This change absorbs energy from the rooms and has a cooling effect – without any additional energy in- put.

The roof as solar power station Your own roof generates energy: On the penthouses the large scale, shimmering blue photovoltaic panels are not Progress is the mounted on the roof – they are the roof. A high energy output is combined with an elegant form. Up-to-date realisation of Utopias. solar technology is combined with the well-tried and old-established roof overhang, which shields off the Oscar Wilde high summer sun. But the rays of the low winter sun fall deep into the room.

Passive heat use The outer walls are glazed with large-scale, floor-to-cei- ling special-glazed windows. They are heavily insulated, but allows a big part of the light to get into the rooms (U-value = 0.7 W/m2K, G-value = 0.6). In summer, the PLUSENERGY 15

IIn the times of climate change and progressing de- Sustainability The energy balance of the Sun Ship and The fossil character of struction of the environment, the Sun Ship in Freiburg Ecology is basically economics: in times of over-use of Solar Settlement global economy and the is a signal for change. With its net energy gains and ressources and cynical games with nuclear risks, rege- efficiency in terms of resources, it is a role model to nerative energy becomes a global economic factor. How Contrary to conventional buildings, the Sun impending ruin of all ba- exert a significant influence. The Sun Ship: a beacon rare, expensive, and hard-fought oil and gas truly are, Ship and the houses of the Solar Settlement that shows us the way out of the fossil fuel era into we realize day by day: in world politics and in our wallet. boast a positive Energy balance: They generate sic survival needs make the solar era. And the price spiral will only continue to perpetuate. more energy than they consume. an all-embracing orienta- PlusEnergy In the energy sector many multinational concerns have The sun shines everywhere. And since it makes us inde- in the meantime support for solar technology. Since long tion towards solar energy pendent from globally rising energy prices. That‘s be- ago in Denmark and Sweden, in Brazil and Finnland, up sources more and more cause the Sun Ship is based on the PlusEnergy house – to 20% of their energy requirements are fulfilled by re- Plusenergy House® a building that produces more energy than it consumes. newable energy sources. The PlusEnergy concept uses exigent. It is our first time – and the first time worldwide – for the economic advantages of solar energy: energy supply such generous dimensioned and exclusive commercial without transportation costs, without gigantic infra- real estate to be adapted to the innovative PlusEnergy structure, without large management expenditures. And Energy Hermann Scheer, generation concept. – the sun certainly won‘t send a bill! Member of Parliament, Energy How does it work? Photovoltaic systems generate so- consumption The Solar Plus Alternative Nobel Prize lar electric power. This is fed into the public electricity Ecology is also basically business management: you in- grid and paid for according to the Renewable Energy vest into an “inhabited power station,” you combine the Laureate Act (EEG). A nearby cogeneration plant supplies the advantages of a real estate fund with those of a success- little remaining heat requirements out of regenerative ful pioneering solar business. With the PlusEnergy con- bio mass for the Sun Ship. The calculation is as sim- cept the personal users, commercial tenants, residents ple as this: additional costs become additional profit. and investors all contribute to a responsible, sustainable Passive House This creates additional value and lower energy costs economy. All profit from the single profits of others. for tenants.

KfW-40-House

Low-Energy-House persuant to EneV (Status: Jan. 2008)

The energy savings and the gain of primary energy* by the Sun Ship and Solar Settlement equals about 2 Mio kWh per year. This is the equivalent of 200,000 litres of oil.

* Primary energy is the energy that must be provided by natural energy sources in order to be available as electric and heating power. CLOSE TO THE CITY AND TO NATURE 17

Unique location Transport connections Where Freiburg touches on What would Marie Luise Kaschnitz come upon today? The road that connects with the A5 Rhine Valley mo- the boundary of St. Geor- In the south of Freiburg the Vauban quarter has deve- torway and the B 31 trunk road into the Black Forest loped into a pulsating part of the town, which con- are only a few kilometres away. The main station with gen, there the wealthy Mar- nects the thriving quarters Wiehre and St. Georgen as its Intercity Express connections to all over Germany, well as the city centre. The Solar Settlement is situated Switzerland and France can be reached within five mi- grave country begins. And at the meeting point of all these, in the midst of nature nutes. The Bale/Mulhouse airport is close, the airports autumn arises from those and culture – in short: a feel-good habitat. of Frankfurt and Zurich are not far away. Catchment area Car parking is easily possible in an underground car heights, and my Breisgau, Our commercial building fills a services gap for the park with 130 places. To the Freiburg Car Sharing As- newly developed quarter, it provides the infrastructure sociation, parking spaces have been preferentially al- my islands flower before with services and shopping opportunities for a catch- located. A line 3 tram stop just opposite the Sun Ship me. Late sun and the breath ment area of 25,000 people – plus commuters. On top ensures a direct connection with the city centre and of that, many customers specially come from the city the train station. Typically for Freiburg, a lot of people of vine leafs. May all stay. centre. come by bike. Favourably situated as regards transport facilities, the Sun Ship can easily be reached by car, May nobody ever leave. tram, bike or simply on foot. TEAM SPIRIT AND SYNERGY 19

The Sun Ship, which is committed to sustainability, Infrastructure lives from the careful selection of sustainable busi- The synergy, born from the team spirit of the Sun Ship, is nesses. It is their ideas first that solidify the “built idea” interesting for the individual commercial tenants. The re- of a responsibly thinking economy. ciprocal linkage of companies in the Sun Ship guarantees shorter distances for cooperation, better communication Identity and inspiration. Due to this we have attractive offers in the Spacious, modern architecture with harmonious, re- same building: on the ground floor we offer Alnatura Super laxing interiors. The Sun Ship has character. It delivers Natural Market with its “bio” & fair trade groceries. Adja- a “corporate identity” that demonstrates a business’s cent one will find the quality products of dm-drug store. Or commitment to sustainability. The Sun Ship focuses the for coffees with colleagues, the midday snack or relaxing feeling of community for the entire young, progressive after work, the lounge atmosphere of the Suisse Bar with quarter, for the surrounding communities and suburbs, its fine Swiss specialties makes a great meeting point. for Freiburg, for the region. Cosmopolitan and familiar. - We‘ll meet in the Sun Ship... Economic Success The economic success of every commercial real estate pro- Team Spirit ject is dependent on solvent tenants. With businesses from Its long list of services encompasses not only planning ecologically oriented retail and bank sectors, with ambi- and consulting, rather it reaches from health and thera- tious gastronomy, with the widely known Öko-Institute py to communication design. Likewise, that is how the and the many other firms and their business they were ethically-ecologically engaged GLS Community Bank able to achieve three goals: the Sun Ship builds a powerful found its home here, and how the global reaching Öko- center for Freiburg’s business, which affects well over just Institut e.V. (Eco-Institute) acquired the main head of the surrounding area. It offers an animated environment the building for their headquarters. All in all: a well-ba- and a functional infrastructure for more office and praxis lanced ensemble of commerce and service for the good tenants. And with the 1st Sun Ship Fund it offers an in- of people and the environment. teresting investment opportunity. FLOORPLANS AND CROSS-SECTIONS 21

5th Floor 3rd Floor

2nd Floor

Ground Floor

1st Parking Level Long Cross-section of the Sun Ship

2nd Parking Level OFFICES IN THE SUN SHIP 23

The way you build is to The Sun Ship was the first address for sustainable Ambience businesses in Freiburg and the region. Ethical busi- actually we have known it for a long time: a motiva- do with quality of life. It nesses who have found their place here profit from tional, cheerful, well-lit atmosphere together with a the collective image and vibrancy of the building, comfortable, healthy room temperature creates an en- is to do with feeling at but also from the building advantages and the in- vironment, in which creativity and enthusiasm are wo- frastructure that are offered. ken within employees. The window fronts facing west ease and with feeling at give a full view of the young city quarter Vauban, and Room for ideas to the east of the shimmering blue roofs of the Solar home. Flexibility, ambience, ecology – those are the design Settlement and beyond into the Black Forest. principles of the office and commercial space in the Johannes Rau Sun Ship. A total floor space of 3,600 square meters Healthy work in healthy rooms is divided among different sized offices, so that in- Unhealthy emissions is not fate, rather the result of Former German President dividual needs can be accommodated. These are the bad materials. Of course health-conscious building rooms, in which business ideas can be realized; no technology is possible. By using exclusively natural, back-breaking scriptoriums, rather work and living renewable, and recyclable building material, there was space that is representative – but remains afforda- no burden to the inner-rooms and the environment ble however. whatsoever. That together with the natural climatiza- tion ensures an altogether healthy working climate. Variability Offices will be turned to feel-good room. Ecology is The economic success of businesses in the Sun Ship the orientation for the tenants and employees, the cu- remains the focus, and that is why for us the eco- stomers and the clients. nomic use and aesthetic design depend on the spe- cifications of tenants. The variability of the rooms The Sun Deck belong first to the architectural concept: support The Sun Ship additionally offers a generous dimensi- structures and installations are so in tune with one oned, light conference room on the top floor of the another to provide the upper limit of play space for main building: the “Sun Deck” can be used by the individual planning. Partitioning and upgrading the tenants of the Sun Ship – for conferences, presenta- office space are accommodated to the imagination tions, events – and it can be used further rented to of the tenants. other users as well. THE PENTHOUSES

Houses on the roof? Up here, in the penthouses Consequently only healthy building materials were among the roof gardens of the Sun Ship, life car- used. Simultaneously ventilation and sunlight en ries on, far from the rush of work life. Everything masse care for the freshness of the air. that living encompasses is offered up here: com- fort, health, friendly neighbors – sun shine. And the Savings and Profit spectacular view of the Black Forest, Rhine Valley, Natural building materials and updated building Kaiserstuhl, the Vosges … technology do not disagree. And both combined make an economic benefit. The savings with today‘s Exclusive and Natural energy prices are about 1,100 to 1,800 Euros per year The penthouses have between 91 and 168 m2 floor for heating depending on the home‘s size. That is be- space with three to five rooms. Integrated in 1,500 cause only little heating is needed. Additionally the- m2 dreamy roof garden landscape are sunny terra- re are about 3,000 to 5,000 Euros annually in gains, ces and balconies. Most importantly, these are Plu- created by the solar panels on the roof and which is sEnergy homes. They have well-tested building me- guaranteed by law for 20 years. Whether it is for self- thods guaranteed to have exceptional healthy and occupancy or leasing: a penthouse on the Sun Ship comfortable temperature thanks to natural, emissi- roof is an interesting capital investment, and because ons-free building materials and light-flooded rooms of the independence from energy crises and increa- with panoramic glazing. This is where you will see sing prices, it is also a good safeguard for the future. the especially attractive side of modern solar archi- tecture: the homes are functional and individual, as A penthouse on the Sun Ship, that‘s living between well as simple and exclusive. As Oscar Wilde said, the sky and the earth, between idyllic landscape and one can do without the necessities but not without a pulsating city. In other words: Live like God in Frei- the luxuries. burg. THE SUN SHIP FUND

With the first Sun Ship Fund you can have a holding Dividend payout in the three largest commercial spaces on the ground in the beginning phase, the payout amounts to a little more floor. With the Swiss bar, dm drug store, and the eco- that 3.4% - related to the investment sum. Since the rents are super market Alnatura all occupy this floor. So far the bound to the cost of living index, the rents will rise too. Thus, four successful solar funds have either met or over shot the payout will rise until, in about 20 years, it will amount to their prognoses. Not a single dividend payout has been about 6%. At that point, the investor will have been repaid reduced or fallen through. the full amount of his investment. If the Sun Sip is sold at this point, he will additionally get his share of the sale proceeds. Financing Altogether, on an investment of 15,000 euros, he will attain a Like with any long-term investment, the investor‘s pro- return flow of 38,000 euros. ceeds lie in the economical use of financial resources of their purchase and sound financing. In the case of How safe is the investment? the Sun Ship, only 5.75% of the total volume was spent Nobody can predict economic development over a long period on conception and marketing. The rest goes completely of time. Yet it is possible to calculate, what the dividend payout into the purchase of the real estate and the necessary could be, if certain development parameters are determined. liquidity reserves. The purchase price was checked and From this it can be deduced quite precisely, how an investment attested as appropriate by an independent authorized will perform, if the development departs from the forecasts. expert. The financing is done with less than 32% of committed assets and more than 68% equity. Another In a worst case scenario, the assumption is that the rental re- advantage for the investor: the Sun Ship has already ceipts will fall by 20% after 10 years. With rents being compa- been completed. Thus, the investment company does ratively low under this assumption, the sale proceeds for the not run any risk during the building process. real estate would be about one third lower than planned. Both assumptions can only become real in an extremely bad eco- Income and expenditures nomic situation. This worst case calculation would result in a The tenancy contracts run over a period of ten years return flow of 171.4%. with an extension option. The main tenants dm drug store and Alnatura supermarket have together have a For an investment of 15,000 euros, the return flow to the in- combined tenancy of over 30 years. Operation and ad- vestor would be 24,141 euros over the complete investment ministration expenses are only about 10%, the expense period. The divdend would then be 3.64%. For a “worst case,” for interest rates and amortization are about 30% of the this value is very good. rental income. 60% of the rental income remains for the As for a “best case,” e.g. for a downright favorable develop- stockholders. The full amount of this surplus is meant to ment, the investor would even receive almost four times his be paid-out to the stockholders every year. investment. AWARDS AND PRIZES 29

The trophy case is full. In the last years, the Solar Set- tlement and the Sun Ship have been endowed with the 2009 most renowned national and international awards. Their Utopia Award 2009 architectural aesthetics, the innovative technology, and the sustainable urban planning concept of architect Rolf 2008 Disch have gained great recognition – and of course the German Local Sustainability Prize entrepreneurial accomplishment. 2008 The unique energy concept alone has achieved three di- ‘Focus in silver’ from Focus Green – Internatio- stinguished promotion schemes: by the German Federal nal Design Prize Baden-Württemberg Environment Foundation, by the federal state of Baden- Württemberg, and by the Innovation Fund of local ener- 2007 - 2008 gy supplier Badenova AG. Creativity Award from Japanese PEN-Magazine

Beyond all borders the solar service center is considered 2006 to be a pioneering project for future building construc- Germany’s Most Beautiful Residential Commu- tion, and for Freiburg‘s economy, it is a figurehead and nity trigger for innovations. For the commercial tenants, the high standing of this “res des” means a cash value ad- 2005 vantage through image transfer. The high symbolic ca- Wuppertaler Energy- and Environment Prize for pital of the Sun Ship thus plays a considerable part in its the Sun Ship stable value – and your return-on-investment. 2003 Global Energy Award

2002 European Solar Prize

2002 House of the Year from ‘Häuser’ Magazine along with the Reiner Foundation and the German Publishing Institute

2002 Special Prize for ‘Residential Integrated Photo- voltaic’ by the German BP

2001 Photovoltaic Architecture Prize, Baden-Württ- emberg

2000 Creative wood integration prize from BUND for the Schlierberg Solar Settlement in Freiburg

Global Energy Award WHAT DOES THE PRESS SAY? 31

The Solar Settlement in Freiburg shows that today financially With his Solar Settlement and the Sun Ship, attractive products that also appeal to the ideals are possible. Freiburg-based solar architect Rolf Disch has Solarfonds as a real-estate fund already champions all the ad- created an internationally recognized masterpi- vantages that such an investment in an attractive region such ece, blending heavenly colors and shapes. as Freiburg offers, with the high level of rent prices, the strong increases in property values and the growing population there. Kommunal Intern, 6/06 Its particular appeal: it is a sustainable investment, offering ear- Heliotrope is, in a sense, a nings that go well beyond the customary good ROI. temple - a place for the wor- ship of both ancient sunlight and groundbreaking design. Die Welt, 4/04 Azure, May 2007 Making possible today what was Germany’s impossible yesterday. Houses that most beautiful produce more energy than their housing estate is Disch is without doubt inhabitants can consume. A high in Freiburg. quality of life thanks to healthy construction materials. Solar energy Bauidee, 6/06 as the driving force in society. That is Germany’s best-known Rolf Disch’s vision. And this vision is no utopia but a reality, as he and his team have proved. A large number of solar pioneer. widely different construction projects already attest to this committed pioneer’s design talent. Solar techno- logy, cost/benefits, and architecture The linkage of solar energy and the financial sector unleashes With the Schlierberg Solar Settlement, the blend in Rolf Disch’s oeuvre to offer new potential. The future belongs to the renewables. And the company has set new standards for solar a convincing alternative to conventi- present? Solar technology is already making a pioneering and construction and residences in the 21st cen- onal ways of building and living. tury. The Schlierberg Solar Settlement means stimulating contribution with cross-sector projects. Freiburg’s that the future of solar construction and Badische Zeitung, 7/05 Solar Settlement proves this clearly: The combination of residence in harmony with nature is already innovative financial experts, the property industry, and solar a reality today. technology made the housing estate possible in the first place Der Monat, 3/06 Die Welt, 4/04 Disch’s energy savings principles impact on the architectural forms chosen, because while the form is supposed to follow the building’s Trendsetter for sun joy: the Schlierberg Solar Set- function, the criterion of “form follows energy” is given an equal tlement in Freiburg, one of the most modern solar status here. housing construction projects in Europe. Family Home, 3/05 Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, 2/06 Solarsiedlung GmbH Sonnenschiff Merzhauser Straße 177 79100 Freiburg Germany

Tel. 0761 / 49 / 459 44 30 Fax 0761 / 49 / 459 44 39 www.solarsiedlung.de www.sonnenschiff-fonds.de