Buildings using TX Active technology clean themselves and the surrounding environment

The essence of the technology is a common natural principle of the decomposition of substances by light, accelerated by the presence of a photocatalyst. The consequences of photocatalysis are manifested outwardly in two phenomena. Firstly, just like trees and greenery, materials carrying this technology actively reduce the concentration of pollutants in the air, thus combating smog. The second result is the self-cleaning property of materials, where organic impurities adhering to surfaces are decomposed by photocatalysis.
Thanks to these unique properties, several buildings have already been realized in Europe using this technology. In the Czech Republic, it refers to the residential complex 12 Lofts completed in 2010 in Prague-Bubench. The façade of the building is made up of a system of suspended prefabricated panels made of white TX Active concrete, whose main benefit is ensuring long-term whiteness, which together with the precise grid of the panels determines the characteristic appearance of the house. The architect of the building, John Eisler, utilized his previous experience working with TX Active technology when he collaborated on the design and implementation of one of the most famous buildings using this technology, the Dives in Misericordia church in Rome.
In Italy, two transport constructions utilizing the influence of "TX Active" material on reducing smog in their surroundings have also been realized. The technology was used in the Umberto I tunnel in Rome and on the road surface in the center of Bergamo specifically to reduce the concentration of pollutants from automobile traffic. Surveys conducted at these locations confirmed an increase in air purity. Another country in Europe where the technology is successfully used is France. As early as 2002, a cultural center was built in Chambéry, France, using TX Active technology, and this technology was newly utilized in the construction of wine warehouses in the famous wine-growing region of Bordeaux.

In many ways unique is the building of the Central Industrial Archive of EDF (Électricité de France) designed by LAN Architecture, located between the towns of Bure and Saudron in eastern France. The basic aspect of this building is its complete integration into the surrounding landscape and maximum energy and environmental friendliness. In addition, this building features a truly unique façade.
The five-story building, intended for the concentration of all the industrial documentation of EDF, is divided into two functional parts. The main part houses the archive itself, where materials in both paper and microfilm form occupy about 70 km of shelving. Each of the twenty archive rooms is temperature and humidity regulated. Individual sections of the archive can withstand fire for up to two hours and are equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system. The smaller ground-level part of the building, separated by an atrium, is designated for offices. The office part of the building is firmly set into a natural slope and provides an ideal view of the surrounding landscape.

The uniqueness of the façade lies in the combination of several unusual solutions. At first glance, the shine of 120,000 stainless steel mirrors (with a diameter of 7 cm and a thickness of 1 mm) embedded in the visible layer of the prefabricated façade panels is striking. The result of this solution is an optically lightened building with the impression of blurred outlines reflecting the surrounding landscape and adapting its colors to the changing seasons.
What may not be apparent at first glance is the use of TX Active cement in the visible layer of the panels. The reason for its use is both its self-cleaning capabilities and its favorable impact on air purity in the vicinity. The panels, made with a two-layer concrete casting, are 80 mm thick and reinforced with 70 mm ribs. The combination of two layers of concrete and a 30 cm layer of insulation material ensures a high level of thermal comfort, which is particularly advantageous in the summer when it reduces cooling requirements. The typical dimensions of the panels are 16 x 2.3 meters, which required special procedures for handling and assembling the façade, and the manufacturing process of these panels is now protected by a patent.
To reduce energy consumption needed for heating and ensure good hygiene quality of the air, a controlled ventilation system with heat recovery was installed in the building. The production of heat is based on renewable energy sources and the use of a heat pump. Excellent thermal-technical properties of the building envelope combined with economic ventilation and a low-voltage lighting system reduce the building's energy demands, whose total energy consumption represents 29 kWh/m² per year.
Improving the quality of the environment, suitable integration of buildings with their surroundings, and increasing the aesthetic level of buildings – all of this is brought about by materials using TX Active technology. Successful implementations worldwide demonstrate that investors, architects, and designers realize how important it is to pay attention to the quality of the environment we live in.