A new, 92 meter tall complex of soft, undulating curves marks the
skyline of Groningen. This asymmetric, aerodynamic construction is set
amidst small, ancient woodland, sheltering rare and protected species.
The project includes the design, construction and financing of two
public institutions; the national tax offices and the student loan
administration. The commission from the RGD (National Buildings Service)
includes, besides the architecture, the management and building
maintenance and care of facilities and services for a period of 20
years. Accommodating 2,500 workstations, parking facilities for 1,500
bicycles and 675 cars in an underground garage, the building will be
surrounded by a large public city garden with pond and a multifunctional
pavilion with commercial functions.
The architecture aims to present these institutions with a softer,
more human and approachable profile. Tall buildings are generally
associated with mid-twentieth century modernism. Their harsh,
businesslike exteriors contain powerful, inaccessible-seeming
strongholds. By contrast, the DUO and Tax offices deliberately cloak a
commanding public institution in an organic, friendlier and more
future-oriented form.
"The design contains numerous new innovations related to the
reduction of materials, lower energy costs and more sustainable working
environments. It presents a fully integrated, intelligent design
approach towards sustainability.” – Ben van Berkel
The project is one of Europe’s most sustainable large new office
buildings. The RGD brief prescribed a future-proof building that couples
flexibility and sustainability with an esthetic of sobriety. The
architectural response to this has been to strive for an all-round
understanding of the concept of sustainability, including energy and
material consumption, as well as social and environmental factors. Thus
the sustainability manifests itself in reduced energy consumption (EPC
0.74), as well as significantly reduced material consumption. Bringing
back the floor heights from 3.60 m to 3,30 m resulted in a total
reduction of 7.5 m on the entire building, which also lessens the impact
of the building on the surroundings. Both inside and outside the
architecture generates a bio-climate that is beneficial to both humans
and the local flora and fauna.
Fins
Sustainability and energy reduction have steered the design of the
facade, which contains technical installations that are tailored to be
durable and cause minimal environmental impact. The facade concept
integrates shading, wind control, daylight penetration and construction
in fin-shaped elements. These horizontal fins keep a large amount of the
heat outside the building, reducing the requirement for cooling.
Concrete core activation
Another technical feature of the building that contributes to its
sustainable character is the combination of concrete core activation and
underground long term energy storage. This appreciably reduces the
demand for external energy sources.
Individual climate control for each workspace
Creating a healthy, energy efficient interior climate and employee
workspace comfort was also an important element in the design. Plenty of
natural daylight and adjustable heating, ventilation and access to
fresh air for individual workspaces contribute to the comfort of the
workspaces throughout the building.
The 11-th floor
A high pressure ventilation system with natural air inflow and
outflow via main engineering shafts and the facade grills on the 11th
floor reduces the need for artificial ventilation.
Future possibilities
In addition, the residual energy of the data center and offices can
be used to heat the homes that will be realized in the future in the
perimeter of the site.
Flexibility
And last, but not least, the building is designed so that it can be
transformed into housing in the future without major structural
modifications. Therefore, the locations of elevators, stairs and
technical spaces have been carefully considered, and a structural grid
of 1.20 m. has been deployed, rather than the conventional office grid
of 1.80 m.
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Источник: http://www.evolo.us/architecture/unstudio-realizes-one-of-the-most-sustainable-large-office-buildings-in-europe/ |