Landesdenkmalamt, Esslingen

Landesdenkmalamt – Esslingen, Germany
Project overview

The Landesdenkmalamt (State Monuments Office) in Esslingen is housed in a building with a distinctive glass façade. The organisation is responsible for preserving cultural heritage, and its building reflects a contemporary interpretation of transparency and openness. The climate in the Stuttgart region demands careful control of solar gains and thermal losses.
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Design challenge

The building required a full glass façade that could provide views and daylight while maintaining comfortable temperatures. Some façade sections are fixed glazing, while others are operable vent windows that allow natural ventilation. The shading system needed to adapt to these differing conditions and prevent glare, overheating and heat loss. It also had to complement the minimalist aesthetic of the façade.

RetroSolar strategy

Fixed sections of the façade incorporate RETROLuxTherm louvers within triple insulating glass
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. Operable vent windows use RETROLux blinds that move with the window, ensuring continuous shading regardless of the window’s position. Additional roller shutters provide protection against low sun angles. The triple glazing and louvers limit solar gain while admitting diffuse light, and the integrated system ensures smooth operation across fixed and movable elements. Measurements show that the inner glass temperatures remain around 32 °C, only 2–4 K above the室
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Building physics and performance

The combination of RetroSolar louvers and triple glazing results in negligible secondary heat transmission. The low SHGC values reduce cooling loads, while the high insulation of the triple glass limits heat loss. The ability of the blinds to move with the vent windows ensures continuous performance during natural ventilation. The roller shutters provide additional flexibility to cope with extreme conditions. Overall, the system creates a comfortable indoor climate with minimal reliance on HVAC.

Architectural outcome and significance

The Landesdenkmalamt building demonstrates a sophisticated integration of shading and ventilation in a glass façade. The adaptable system allows the building to respond to various solar angles and user operations. By combining retro‑reflective louvers, triple glazing and additional shading layers, the project achieves a high level of performance while maintaining the aesthetic purity of the glass façade. It serves as a precedent for similar institutional buildings seeking to balance transparency with environmental control.