The second episode of Solar Machines takes us to Paris, on the Île Seguin, where La Seine Musicale by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines turns architecture into a kinetic dialogue with the sun.

At the heart of this cultural landmark stands a timber-clad concert hall embraced by a rotating solar sail — an iconic structure that both shades and powers the building. With its 1.000 m² of photovoltaic surface tracking the sun’s path throughout the day, the sail transforms energy into motion and performance into light.

Through the voices of Philippe Monteil (Shigeru Ban Architects) and Jean de Gastines (JDG Architects), in dialogue with Pierluigi Bonomo (head of the SUPSI BIPV team) and Jean-Didier Steenackers (founder of Sunsoak Architecture Studio), the episode explores how integrated photovoltaics evolve beyond technology to become a dynamic architectural material — uniting structure, motion, and inspiration.

The Voice of Solar Architecture project is curated by SUPSI within the European Project SEAMLESS-PV and explores exemplary architectures where the sun becomes both material and metaphor.

Enjoy the video and don’t forget to answer the question below to receive a Certificate of Participation (1 CFU) from SUPSI Continuing Education.