The Sun Rock project in Taiwan, designed by architecture firm MVRDV, has reached the final stage of construction with a façade fully clad in solar panels. Located in the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, the building was commissioned by the state-owned Taipower and aims to play a key role in Taiwan’s renewable energy development. Its curved, dome-like, and light-filled form is carefully designed to maximize solar exposure throughout the day.
The architecture of the project is fully aligned with the local climate and the sun’s path. The folds in the façade not only add visual interest but also create optimal surfaces for installing solar panels. This precise geometry maximizes the panels’ performance throughout different hours of the day, while carefully integrated windows ensure interior functionality without compromising energy efficiency.
The Sun Rock building is capable of generating around one million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, with the potential to increase this figure to 1.7 million kilowatt-hours through the expansion of its photovoltaic system. This level of energy production not only meets the building’s full energy demand but also allows surplus energy to be fed back into the grid. As a result, the project serves as a model of self-sufficient and sustainable infrastructure.
The building’s façade incorporates over 4,000 square meters of solar panels—a form that not only ensures high energy efficiency but also presents a symbolic vision of futuristic architecture. As project architect Winy Maas puts it: “We turned the entire building into a machine for energy generation.” This project stands as a remarkable example of the intelligent fusion of function and form in contemporary architecture.