Wrapped in solar panels, the Sol Invictus sustainable skyscraper concept in Melbourne would present a fundamental rethinking of how high-rises are built. One of the most recognizable features of skyscrapers?their thin, steel-and-glass-frames?often becomes an enemy of efficiency. These building?s sleek, striking curtain walls result in extra heat gain and excessive heating costs in cooler climates, meaning these modern structures can sometimes be energy hogs. Achieving energy efficiency in a high-rise often means designing to evade the sun, with facades strategically shaped to deflect the sun?s rays.
A new skyscraper concept being examined in Australia turns this design concept on its head by welcoming, not shading, the sun?s rays. The Sol Invictus, a proposed 60-story project in Melbourne, would feature a new form of cladding that doubles as solar panels, allowing the building to generate much of its own power. According to Peter Brook, a partner at the Australian firm Peddle Thorp, which developed the plan, this bold bet on new technology would turn the traditional curtain wall into a high-tech power generator. "This concept would see the technology shaping a fundamental part of the architecture," says Brook. "Many designers engineer buildings to reduce their exposure to the sun. In this case, we?re doing the opposite."

The concept goes back about three years ago, when Peddle Thorp was investigating new solar panel technolo...