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Where brand identity meets energy generation
A renovation that turns a façade into a brand statement
A 50-year-old brand that needed its building to catch up
SOLMAR, a family-owned travel agency established in 1971, had premises that no longer reflected their forward-thinking values. Architect Sabina Palumbo was tasked with a renovation that would give the building a strong, contemporary identity — whilst making the envelope work harder than any standard cladding material ever could.
What standard cladding could not deliver
- Deep, uniform black finish as a high-contrast branding canvas
- No glare or visual noise to distract from brand graphics
- Retrofit-compatible: fixed to existing structure without major works
- Energy generation from the façade to justify the investment
Why it fits: ISSOL® Noctis Velvet delivers a deep matte black finish that reads as premium cladding to any passer-by — whilst embedding high-efficiency PERC cells invisibly within the glass. The velvet surface eliminates reflective glare, making it an ideal canvas for branding. For SOLMAR, it replaced a passive material with one that actively generates electricity from day one.
Parameters for rapid evaluation
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Solar façade cladding | Commercial renovation; retrofit onto existing structure |
| ISSOL® solution | ISSOL® Noctis Velvet | Matte black finish; PERC cells fully integrated |
| Power density | ~170 Wp/m² | High-efficiency monocrystalline PERC |
| Cell visibility | Invisible | Cells concealed beneath uniform velvet surface |
| Finish | Deep matte black | Glare-free; suitable as branding background |
| Project type | Renovation / retrofit | Fixed to existing façade without structural alterations |
| Contractor | Habenu-van de Kreeke | Genk, Belgium |
| Location | Maasmechelen, Belgium | Commercial high street; south-west orientation |
“This façade had to be a tangible translation of our brand values: trustworthy, inspiring, and forward-looking. ISSOL® allowed us to achieve all three.”
Morena Vetrugno — Director, SOLMAR Travel Agency
From renovation brief to finished cladding
Pre-renovation condition — existing façadeAvailable on request →
