At the Ketelhuisplein in Eindhoven, the Dutch Design Week 2025 saw the opening of the Umbra Pavilion – a collaborative design by Studio Pauline van Dongen and Tentech. The pavilion is a lightweight, floating textile structure covering 190 m² and reaching a height of 9.6 meters.

The canopy, named Heliotex (see also Heliotex), features flexible organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) that generate solar energy while providing shade. In total, the pavilion incorporates 40 m² of Heliotex with 150 integrated solar cells (approximately 8 m²) and is connected to a 3 kWh energy storage system. This allows the pavilion to provide both cooling and sustainable energy generation.

By weaving the OPVs directly into the textile, a material is created that is flexible, foldable, and adaptable in shape, pattern, and color. The technology used represents one of the most sustainable forms of solar energy.

Heliotex has been developed with circularity as a guiding principle. The textile is made from recycled polyester (rPET) and designed as a mono-material, allowing the solar modules to be easily separated and recycled.

The production process of Heliotex is being further scaled up within an international Eurostars project in collaboration with Danish and German partners. After Dutch Design Week, the pavilion will be exhibited in Arnhem in 2026, where research will focus on how the textile can contribute to cooling in urban environments.

Photos: Ronald Smits Photography