Prova Project
Hortus is an energy-positive office building in Basel designed by Herzog & de Meuron as a fully integrated system combining architecture, materials, and energy strategies. The project is based on a compact timber structure with low embodied carbon and a holistic design approach aimed at minimizing lifecycle impacts. Photovoltaic systems are deployed across the building, combining a large rooftop installation with additional integration along the parapets, enabling on-site renewable energy production that exceeds operational demand. In this sense, Hortus can be described as regenerative, as it generates a surplus of energy and offsets its embodied energy over time.