Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Saas-Fee

The Building

Building pre-intervention

Building post-intervention

The car-free mountain village of Saas-Fee is located in the middle of the Swiss Alps at 1800 meters above sea level. Saas-Fee not only impresses as a winter and summer holiday destination, but has also been certified as an Energy Town since 2002 and as an Energy Town Gold since 2020. As an Energy City Gold, the municipality promotes renewable energies, environmentally friendly mobility and the efficient use of resources. When the old copper roof of the parish church, built in 1963, was in need of renovation three years ago, it was clear that conventional materials should not be used, but that the renovation should be as sustainable as possible. Nevertheless, it was crucial that the new roof should fit into the old village centre and not stand out surrounded by the traditional stone roofs.

The Solution

Solution pre-intervention

Solution post-intervention

Solution post-intervention: Eglise Saas-Fee_Post_5_(C)Megasol.jpg

What is the Solution?

Although the church council was convinced of the merits of solar energy, the snow load and the visual appearance of a solar church roof initially raised doubts among some parish representatives. The church council was unsure whether a modern solar church roof would suit a parish church. Although many solar roofs still consist of conventional solar panels, there are now solar panels that are adapted in terms of colour and structure and no longer even shine. In a construction with these panels, you cannot tell at first glance that it is a solar roof. The use of these modern solar panels then convinced the church council and the project was commissioned.

Why Does it work?

Over 700 individual modules of different sizes were produced for the church roof in Saas-Fee. Precise work is important here, with the first step being to precisely measure the individual sizes on the roof.

PROS

Adaptable to building and site requirements (colour, texture, shape)
The chosen solution could be a solution for listed buildings.
The inactive modules provide a neat finish right down to the edges/angles, what not only preserves the appearance of the building, but also optimizes energy production.

CONS