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- Jahra Court Complex
A 1,525 m² façade that generates electricity — without sacrificing transparency
From brief to high-performance envelope
Transparency as architectural language in an extreme climate
Fentress Architects needed a façade solution that communicates both authority and openness. Large glazed elevations, daylight deep into public circulation — but in Kuwait, that means a structural cooling load without integrated solar control. Typical fixes — external louvres, heavy shading structures — would have undermined the architectural discipline of the design.
Non-negotiable technical requirements
- Transparent, patterned façade expression across two 16-storey towers
- Reduce solar heat gain without blocking daylight quality
- Integrate PV into a vertical envelope with safe cable routing
- Security certification for a public building (EN 356 P1A)
Why it fits: One façade material replaces three separate systems: architectural glazing, solar-control strategy, and photovoltaic generation. The square cell grid reinforces the geometric language of the design. A ventilated assembly ensures stable output at temperatures above 50 °C.
Parameters for rapid evaluation
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Semi-transparent façade | South elevations; daylight + solar control |
| ISSOL® solution | ISSOL® Square | Square cell grid; transparency adjustable |
| Active façade area | ±1,525 m² | BIPV-integrated façade surface |
| Façade capacity | ±95 kWp | Part of ±202 kWp total system (incl. roof) |
| Power density | ~62 Wp/m² | Based on total façade surface area |
| Transparency | 20–40% | Tuned via cell spacing for daylight + performance |
| Annual yield | ~105 MWh/yr | Calculated, 90° tilt, BWh climate (>2,000 kWh/m²) |
| Glass build-up | Laminated Extra Clear + EVA | DGU/TGU as required by façade specification |
| Cell technology | PERC monocrystalline | Square cell grid for architectural consistency |
| Integration | Ventilated façade assembly | Thermal management behind modules; critical in desert climate |
“ISSOL® Square allowed us to maintain the transparency and geometric discipline of the façade — whilst turning solar control into an integrated performance layer.”
Fentress Architects — Lead architect
From design intent to realised façade
Interior perspective — daylight quality in occupied spacesAvailable on request →
Installation documentation — construction phaseAvailable on request →
