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In Gothenburg, the Kuggen shows how a round building can use smart facade, triangular windows, strong colors, and a movable screen to better control sunlight entry on the upper floors, without relying on solutions that are hard to understand.
The building uses a rotating hat. In Gothenburg, Sweden, the Kuggen stands out for combining smart facade, circular shape, triangular windows, strong colors, and a top screen that follows the sun’s path.
The information was released by Architizer, a digital platform for architecture projects and products. The building was designed by Wingårdhs and is part of Chalmers University, intended for office and university activities.
The idea draws attention because it seems easy to understand. Instead of relying solely on special glass or invisible systems, the Kuggen uses shape, shadow, and physical movement to deal with sunlight.
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The top screen works like a hat that rotates with the sun
The most curious part of the Kuggen is on the upper floors. The building has a rotating shading screen that follows the sun’s path and protects the most exposed areas.
This screen functions as a movable cover. When the sun moves, it changes position to help reduce direct light entry on the upper floors.
The result is a facade that doesn’t stay still. It participates in the building’s operation and transforms the relationship between architecture and sunlight into something visible to anyone.
This detail makes the Kuggen different from many modern facades. The project’s intelligence appears in a physical solution, simple to observe and easy to explain.
The triangular windows help natural light penetrate deeper into the building
The triangular windows are also part of the building’s strategy. They do not appear just as decoration or a different visual choice.
The triangular shape allows light to enter near the ceiling. When this happens, the brightness can reach more internal parts of the environment more easily.
Architizer, digital platform for architecture projects and products, detailed that the triangular windows let light enter at a higher region, which helps to better illuminate the building’s interior.
For those looking from the outside, the effect is striking. For those using the building, the solution helps to make better use of natural light, without relying solely on large openings in the facade.
The circular shape helps the building to better handle sun, shade, and exposed facade
The round shape of the Kuggen also has a practical function. The circular shape reduces the amount of exposed facade in relation to the internal space created by the building.
This matters because the facade is one of the parts that receives the most sun, heat, wind, and external variations. The better the building’s design interacts with the environment, the greater the control over these conditions.
On the upper floors, the volume extends more to the south than to the north. This difference helps the building itself to create shade over part of its structure.
Thus, the Kuggen does not rely solely on the movable screen. The circular shape and the design of the floors also play a part in the solar protection strategy.
The strong colors make the facade change appearance depending on the point of view
The colorful facade enhances the visual impact of the Kuggen. The glazed terracotta panels create a lively surface, with tones that change presence according to the light and angle of observation.
As you walk around the building, the perception changes. The building seems to gain another interpretation depending on the point of view.
The red colors reference the industrial paint linked to shipyards and the port. In some areas, green spaces create contrast and make the ensemble even more striking.
This combination helps the building to be remembered. The round building in Sweden combines a strong image, colorful facade, and a shading solution that catches attention at first glance.
Why Kuggen looks different from other smart facades
When talking about a smart facade, many people imagine buildings full of modern glass, digital panels, and automatic systems that are hard to understand.
Kuggen takes a different path. It uses a moving screen, triangular windows, and a circular shape that participates in light control.
This difference makes the project more accessible to the general public. It’s not necessary to understand complex engineering to see that the building tries to protect itself from the sun using shape and movement.
That’s why the building stands out. It shows that a smart facade can be clear, physical, and visually strong, without relying solely on hidden technology.
The round building shows that efficiency can also arise from simple solutions
Kuggen attracts attention because it combines beauty and function. The rotating screen, the triangular windows, and the colorful facade are not isolated elements.
Each part of the building helps to tell the same story. The building seeks shade, natural light, and visual change throughout the day.
This is the strength of the project. It transforms the path of the sun into part of the architecture and shows that efficiency can arise from understandable choices.
In the end, Kuggen proves that a building can look futuristic without abandoning simple solutions. Shape, color, shade, and movement work together in a building that changes with the light.
Do you think Brazilian cities should invest more in buildings that use shape and shade to reduce heat, instead of relying only on expensive technology?
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