Solar designer Marjan van Aubel on aesthetics, democracy, and the future of energy

Marjan van Aubel (born 1985) is a solar designer whose work merges sustainability, technology, and design. Her projects include Sunne, Current Table, and Power Plant, which treat sunlight as an experiential and interactive element. In her book 'Solar Futures: How to Design a Post-Fossil World with the Sun,' she argues that sustainable energy can be aesthetically pleasing and democratic. Together with Pauline Van Dongen, she co-founded the Solar Movement, which launched the Solar Biennale; its second edition runs in Lausanne until September 21. Van Aubel believes the biggest obstacle to solar design is the technical mindset that has long dominated the field, prioritizing efficiency and cost over aesthetics. She sees the most revolutionary progress as a shift toward a narrative that embraces aesthetic and democratic values. Her Sunne app allows users to monitor energy production and consumption remotely. She envisions a future where homes are expected to generate their own energy. In the Netherlands, the focus remains on economic return, but the movement is growing among architects, designers, and car manufacturers.