Heliotrop, Energy-plus house in Freiburg, Germany.
The Heliotrop is a cylindrical home in Freiburg that rotates 180 degrees during the day to follow the sun and maximize solar collection through its glass walls. The building pairs this rotating mechanism with specialized thermal insulation and dual-axis solar panels to create a complete energy-generating system.
The building was completed in 1994 as the first energy-plus home in the world. Architect Rolf Disch designed it as his own residence, proving that such technologies could work in real-world living conditions.
This home shows how German residents think about living space and energy responsibility. Visitors notice how comfort and ecological concern coexist in everyday residential design.
Visits to the house require advance booking. The address at Ziegelweg 28 is accessible by public transportation from Freiburg main station.
The home generates four to six times more energy than it consumes, making it a globally unique example at the time. This excess power feeds back into the electrical grid and supports the local energy supply.
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