An inland desert villa whose facade has two jobs: carry the architectural identity of the house, and generate power from the sun that would otherwise punish it.
An inland desert villa whose facade has two jobs: carry the architectural identity of the house, and generate power from the sun that would otherwise punish it.
Each chapter records a decision the next project team can evaluate: intent, performance, production and site delivery.
Semi-transparent BIPV glazing sits inside a stick curtain-wall grid on the solar-facing elevations. The brief, aligned with the client's Vision 2030-era sustainability targets, asked for on-site generation without turning the house into a power plant — so the photovoltaic cells are a facade material first and an energy asset second.
Desert physics drove the engineering. Cell output falls as surface temperature rises, so an external aluminium mashrabiya screen shades the BIPV zones through peak noon — lowering cell operating temperature and improving real-world yield, while also cutting seasonal dust soiling on the glazing.
Daylight comfort was modelled rather than guessed: interior lux levels behind the semi-transparent cells were simulated hour-by-hour so living spaces stay usable without blinds fighting the photovoltaics. The build-up uses laminated BIPV units with warm-edge spacers for cold desert nights.
We delivered the full DC-side wiring schematics, string layout and performance-modelling data for the local electrical consultant. The AC side — inverters and grid-connection approval — stayed with the local party, exactly as the scope boundary requires. Delivery was pure T1 with remote engineering support.
Design & Supply
Middle East context: solar exposure, dust, drainage, finish durability and local review responsibilities are coordinated project by project.
BIPV integrated as facade material within the stick grid — identity and generation in one layer
Mashrabiya shading lowers PV cell temperature and raises real-world yield at peak noon
Full DC-side schematics and performance model handed to the local electrical consultant
AC inverter and grid-connection approvals kept with the local party, per scope boundary
This is a clearly labelled reference study using representative imagery. It explains a facade approach and is not presented as commissioned Starveil work.
Reference study
Mashrabiya Facade · 720 m² envelope
Reference study
Structural Glazing · 640 m² envelope
Reference study
Stick Curtain Wall · 860 m² envelope
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