Is this what the heat pumps of the future will look like?
Typically installed outside close-by to buildings, heat pumps are becoming common visual elements in urban landscapes. To reimagine these essential typologies, we invited MA Product Design students from ECAL University of Art and Design Lausanne to develop innovative concepts, resulting in designs that challenge norms and explore new visual identities of heat pumps.
Adam Friedrich, Unified:
"Unified" is a scalable and adaptable system for Viessmann heat pumps, built using anodised extruded aluminium profiles. The design enables the creation of various sizes and configurations of heat pumps with just two extrusion dies—one straight and one with a rounded corner. Inspired by the lenticular lens effect, the profile shape conceals internal components whilst allowing for efficient airflow.
Alicia Stricker, Terra Cotta:
"Terra Cotta" integrates Viessmann technology into the garden landscape without hiding it. The materiality lends familiarity and enables a beautiful ageing process, while protecting the technology from outside factors. The brick format uses standard clay extrusion processes to allow for a format with sufficient airflow required for the pumps functionality.
Marco Ciacci, Tavillion:
Developed in the Swiss context, "Tavillon" reinterprets a traditional architectural technique in which split wooden tiles are used for façades. Similar to a chimney on a tavillon chalet, the heat pump is clad in wooden shingles and can be positioned atop the building, departing from the convention of existing heat pumps while preserving a vernacular and sustainable building tradition.
Brice Tempier, Oasis:
"Oasis" incorporates a heat pump into a compact architectural structure that integrates various environmentally focused features, including bicycle and electric vehicle storage, water collection, and solar panels. The heat pump's draft is directed to cool the solar panels, enhancing their efficiency. Its scalable design facilitates easy adaptation for individual or shared use of this sustainable hub.
Yeonsu Na, Mailbox:
"Mailbox" integrates heat pump technology into a familiar street typology: the mailbox. In particular, it pays homage to the iconic Swiss letterbox design by Andreas Christen. This iconic Swiss design is typically produced in various formats, often featuring a cavity space beneath the boxes. In this concept, that cavity has been optimised to house a heat pump, seamlessly incorporating it into a commonplace street element.
Thank you very much for this great project. We are excited to see what heat pumps will look like in the future, and how they will become even more integrated into their surrounding environment.