Solar Settlement Tour

The Solar Settlement in Freiburg

The Solar Settlement on Schlierberg in Freiburg is a magnificent example of how the breakthrough of the Plusenergiehaus® is now available for everyone. In addition, the corresponding Sun Ship was the first commercial building built after PlusEnergy-design and construction. The guided tour informs you about:

  • The basic idea and history of the development of the Solar Settlement

  • The structural design of the settlement’s houses and the „Sun Ship“

  • The use of the energy efficient technology

  • The solar energy gains

  • The traffic planning

  • The financial aspects

  • Art and color concept

  • Prospects and outlooks for further planning


  • Eligibility Requirements

    Guided tour for max. 25 people
    Length: approx. 1 hour
    Languages: English and German

    Costs: 300 Euro plus VAT
    School children or Students: 200 Euro plus VAT
    Weekend surcharge: 100 Euro plus VAT

    Sign-up at +49 (0)761/459 44 36
    or at: fuehrungen@rolfdisch.de
    ▲ to top ► www.rolfdisch.de



    Heliotrope Tour

    The Heliotrope

    The Heliotrope was the first Plusenergiehaus® worldwide – a quantum leap in solar architecture. The spectacular building rotates by itself with the sun. Mr. Disch’s office provides guided tours about the concept, construction and technology of the house – including a visit inside. The details of the tour are as follows:

  • The structural design and the rotation mechanism

  • The energy concept and the building insulation

  • The solar generation and allocation of the heat energy, warm water and power

  • The heating concept with floor heating and new-age, low-temperature-radiant ceiling heating

  • The active ventilation unit with heat recovery and earth-to-air heat exchanger

  • The utilization of rainwater

  • The waste management concept with dry composting and primary gray water treatment



  • Eligibility Requirements

    Interior view of the Heliotrope

    Guided tour for max. 20 people
    Mondays – Friday: 300 Euro plus VAT

    School Children or Students (max. 20 people)
    Mondays – Friday: 200 Euro plus VAT

    Saturday surcharge: 100 Euro plus VAT
    Length: approx. 1 hour
    Languages: English and German


    Sign-up with Hanna Lehmann

    Heliotrop
    Ziegelweg 28
    79100 Freiburg
    Tel 0761 / 45 93 20 (only Mon.-Fri., 8-9 AM)
    Fax 0761 / 45 93 26
    heliotrop@t-online.de

    ▲ to top ► www.rolfdisch.de



    Solar Settlement + Heliotrope Tour

    Penthouse on top of the Sun Ship

    The Heliotrope is only a relaxed 5 minute walk from the Solar Settlement, making a combined tour very easy to arrange. The step from experimental building to marketable, ecological community building will become obvious. This tour does not, however, include a visit inside the Heliotrope.

    Eligibility Requirements

    Guided tour for max. 25 people
    Length: ca. 1.5 hours
    Languages: English and German

    Cost: 450 Euro plus VAT
    School children or Students: 300 Euro plus VAT
    Weekend surcharge: 100 Euro plus VAT

    Sign-up at +49 (0)761/459 44 36
    or at: fuehrungen@rolfdisch.de

    ▲ to top ► www.rolfdisch.de



    Further Options

    The visits can be further combined with a lecture (ie: about the new developments and growth of the Plusenergiehaus®), and for instance the current solar community plans in several German cities / communities. The lectures will be given by competent employees at our architecture office in the “sun deck”, the conference room of the Sun Ship building.

    Should you want Rolf Disch personally to give a lecture or to be available for a short Q&A after the tour, please simply ask and we will submit a corresponding offer.

    Because of frequent requests: We do not give tours through the entire Vauban quarter (in which lies the Solar Settlement), rather of course only for the projects for which we are responsible and with which we have first-hand experience.