SOLAR MACHINES
29 October 2026
SUPSI Campus Mendrisio
In joint collaboration with
European & Swiss Solar Awards 2026
Participation is free upon registration
Solar Machines explores a new generation of architecture in which photovoltaics are no longer perceived as technical components to be integrated, but as active materials shaping the identity, performance and quality of buildings.
At a time when architects and designers are increasingly called to respond to climate, energy and material challenges, solar architecture offers new opportunities for innovation, distinction and design quality. The event will provide professionals with concrete references, project insights and strategic perspectives that can inform everyday architectural practice.
A central moment of the event will be the presentation of the book The Solar Machines, prepared by SUPSI in cooperation with Sunsoak, and developed through a dialogue with leading architectural offices and engineering practices, including Foster + Partners, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Shigeru Ban Architects + Jean de Gastines Architectes, OBR – Open Building Research, ZJA Architects & Engineers, and Sunsoak Design + Ney & Partners.
More info
The book presentation will be accompanied by a dedicated exhibition, conceived as a spatial and visual experience connected to the conference.
The event brings together architects, engineers, institutions, industry and research actors to discuss how Building-Integrated Photovoltaics can become part of architectural design culture, from local Swiss and Ticino-based experiences to international visions by leading practices.
Through conferences, case studies, exhibition moments and dedicated networking, Solar Machines offers a unique opportunity to meet key players in person, exchange ambitions and create the basis for new collaborations and future projects.
The event is organised in connection with the European & Swiss Solar Awards 2026, which will take place the following day at LAC Lugano, celebrating outstanding projects and initiatives in solar architecture and renewable energy integration.
Why Attend
Solar Machines is designed for architects, designers, engineers, public and private clients, companies and professionals interested in the future of architecture and energy.
Participants will gain a new perspective on how photovoltaics can become a design resource for contemporary architecture, supporting both technical performance and architectural quality.
The conference combines local relevance and international vision, addressing both the practical challenges of implementation and the broader cultural transformation of solar architecture.
The event will offer the opportunity to
THE TWO-DAY PROGRAMME
13.45 - 14.30 | SUPSI Campus Tour
Optional SUPSI campus tour and BIPV laboratory visit.
14.30 - 15.00 | Arrival & Registration
Registration and welcome, with the opportunity to explore the Solar Machines exhibition and book display before the start of the conference.
15.00 - 15.30 | Institutional Welcome & Event Framing
The vision behind Solar Machines and the role of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics in the energy transition, followed by institutional perspectives from SUPSI and a policy outlook on the future of solar architecture and renewable energy in Switzerland.
Contributors:
Prof. Dr. Francesco Frontini – Director Institute of Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment (ISAAC)
Institutional representative / policy perspective
15.30 - 16.15 | Swiss Perspectives: From Vision to Built (Solar) Reality
The session will feature a tandem presentation by the project owner and the designer, providing complementary perspectives on the same built project and illustrating how multidisciplinary collaboration can turn BIPV from a technical requirement into an architectural opportunity.
Participants may include:
- a public or institutional building owner;
- a Swiss architectural practice active in solar integration;
- a Swiss consultancy specialised in BIPV;
- other representatives of BIPV sector and/or built case studies.
Moderation:
Architecture / engineering magazine or professional representative
16.15 - 16.45 | Solar Machines Book & Exhibition
The session will take the form of a dialogue between Pierluigi Bonomo (Head of the SUPSI BIPV Team) and Jean-Didier Steenackers (Founder of Sunsoak Architecture Studio). Moving beyond individual projects, the discussion will address emerging design paradigms and explore how photovoltaics are reshaping the relationship between architecture, technology and the built environment.
The Solar Machines book includes contributions and project narratives connected to:
- Renzo Piano Building Workshop — Balancing energy and architecture;
- Shigeru Ban Architects + Jean de Gastines Architectes — Lightness and light;
- OBR – Open Building Research — Urban solar scenography;
- ZJA Architects & Engineers — Solar in city landscapes;
- Foster + Partners — Innovation at a global scale;
- Sunsoak Design + Ney & Partners — Solar canopy: architecture, city & energy.
The presentation will be accompanied by a dedicated exhibition, which will remain open for visits during the networking apero.
16.45 - 17.30 | International Keynote
Architecture and Energy Transition
A leading international architectural practice will share its perspective on the future of architecture in the context of the energy transition, reflecting on sustainability, innovation and design quality within contemporary practice.
Speaker:
International architecture office contributing in “The Solar Machines” book
Moderation:
SUPSI
17.30 - 17.45 | Curated Q&A
Audience-driven discussion on challenges, design strategies and future visions for solar architecture.
From 17.45 | Networking Apéro, Exhibition Visit & Meet the Industry
An opportunity to continue discussions, meet fellow participants and explore the Solar Machines exhibition.
The networking moment is conceived as an integral part of the event, creating space for exchange between architects, designers, companies, institutions, researchers and project owners, while the exhibition offers additional opportunities to engage directly with industry representatives and BIPV manufacturers.
European & Swiss Solar Awards
The Solar Machines Conference is organised in connection with the European & Swiss Solar Awards 2026, which will take place the following day at LAC Lugano.
The Awards Ceremony will celebrate outstanding Swiss and European projects in which photovoltaics contribute to architectural identity, innovation and renewable energy integration.
Optional:
Visit to the Franklin University campus and its large-scale dynamic BIPV façade system.
THE SOLAR MACHINES EXHIBITION
The event will feature the presentation of The Solar Machines, a book prepared by SUPSI in cooperation with Sunsoak.
The publication explores how photovoltaics are entering architectural culture not only as energy systems, but as materials, design drivers and spatial opportunities.
It brings together selected projects and perspectives from leading architectural and engineering practices.
The dedicated exhibition will translate the book’s themes into a spatial and visual experience, combining selected projects, printed materials, visual narratives and audiovisual content.
Printed hard copies of the book will also be presented during the event.
Company Exhibition / Sponsored Area
A curated sponsored area will provide visibility to companies active in solar architecture, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, façade systems, solar glass and related technologies.
The objective is to create a high-quality, non-commercial exhibition environment where industry partners can present materials, samples and solutions in dialogue with architecture and design culture.
This area will support sponsor engagement and contribute to the co-financing of the event, while offering participants direct contact with companies and technologies relevant to their professional practice.
Sponsor visibility may be associated with specific activities, such as the exhibition, apero, printed material or dedicated communication elements.
Sponsors & Partners
The event is organised by
Supported by
In partnership with
