A Power-Generating Façade Built for Performance and Profitability

In today’s building landscape, sustainability and cost-efficiency are no longer in conflict — they are part of the same architectural conversation.

The Schüco AF VC ventilated façade system, now enhanced with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), offers a rare blend of design freedom, energy performance, and economic viability.

This rear-ventilated system transforms façades from passive surfaces into active climate shields and energy generators, while ensuring a streamlined construction process that prioritizes modularity and smart fabrication.

Where Aesthetics Meet Active Performance

Architects and developers are under pressure to create buildings that both look iconic and perform intelligently. The Schüco AF VC system rises to this challenge with a ventilated aluminium façade design that delivers:

• Protective shielding from weather and thermal fluctuations
• Energy generation through seamlessly integrated BIPV modules
• Visual flexibility, allowing a range of custom finishes and fixings
• System reliability, suitable for long-term use in a wide array of climates

But it’s the integration of form and function — high-end design merged with embedded sustainability — that truly sets this system apart.

‍A Complete, Cost-Effective Façade Package

One of the standout features of the Schüco AF VC + BIPV system is its economic sensibility:

• Minimal material usage for load-bearing elements, reducing costs and weight
• Low fabrication and installation effort, resulting in faster build times
• Modular substructure compatible with all design options — limiting the need for multiple fabrication types
• Extensive use of identical components, allowing for optimized warehousing, bulk ordering, and simplified logistics

By minimizing complexity and maximizing system reuse, Schüco provides a façade solution that is financially efficient without compromising on performance.

One System, Four Design Styles

All four Schüco AF VC design variants are fully compatible with BIPV modules, allowing designers to choose their architectural expression without losing energy performance:

1. Point Fixing: Ideal for refined, suspended glass visuals.
2. Full-Frame Fixing: A robust and symmetrical layout for uniform façades.
3. Two-Sided Fixing: Clean vertical articulation with minimalistic hardware visibility.
4. Concealed Fixing: Fully hidden mechanics for monolithic or sculptural designs.

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All these variants use a single load-bearing substructure, greatly simplifying project logistics and reducing coordination costs across different façade zones.

Technical Performance at a Glance

These specs reveal a façade system designed not only for energy performance and architectural flexibility, but also for manufacturing efficiency and lifecycle sustainability.

One Supplier, One Responsibility

Schüco acts as a single-source provider for both the ventilated façade structure and the photovoltaic modules.

This holistic approach offers numerous advantages:

• Full system compatibility and warranty coherence
• Streamlined installation with no system mismatches
• Simplified procurement, with fewer supplier interfaces
• Coordinated maintenance plans and clear documentation

For planners and developers, this reduces coordination overhead and ensures that façade performance — thermal, structural, and electrical — is delivered as one coherent package.

Sustainability That Works

Beyond energy generation and aesthetics, Schüco ensures that the AF VC system contributes to sustainability in multiple ways:

• Fully recyclable aluminium frame and components
• On-site clean energy generation reduces operational CO₂
• Material efficiency reduces embodied carbon
• Supports certification goals (e.g. LEED, DGNB, BREEAM)
• Passive ventilation cavity enhances thermal regulation

This aligns the system not just with environmental compliance — but with climate leadership.

Final Thought: Building Façades That Do More

The Schüco AF VC with BIPV integration represents the next evolution in façade thinking. It empowers buildings to:

• Protect occupants and materials
• Produce renewable energy
• Reflect a bold, modern identity
• And reduce lifetime costs

In short, it’s a solution for those who believe that façades should do more than just look good — they should work harder, last longer, and give back.