ignacio borrego designs photo voltaic panel construction that doubles as pergola on rooftop in madrid

the ‘photovoltaic shade’ cultivates solar power while serving as resting area for office employees 

spanish architect ignacio borrego completes the ‘photovoltaic shade’ as a hybrid structure sitting on the roof of a building in madrid. the 55 sqm volume holds solar panels that generate power for an office space in the building and, at the same time, provides a shaded platform where employees can cool down, rest, and gather.  

all images © imagen subliminal

using lightweight, steel galvanized profiles for assembly

balanced on four support points, the ‘photovoltaic shade’ is made of light galvanized steel profiles that support plasterboard partitions. for stabilization, ignacio borrego (see more here) and his team had to weld two curved circular tubes of 70mm steel that are wind resistant and able to transfer the weight loads to the four support points. 

the lightweight profiles were all bolted on-site and assembled without needing auxiliary systems. more importantly, borrego clarifies that ‘the whole set is reversible, all joints are removable.’ the pergola area was built using the same structural profile, and includes recycled furniture.