UNStudio recently completed a major renovation of its former bank headquarters in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The company has significantly improved the energy efficiency of the aging building and rearranged the interior layout to suit modern office use.
The building, named Fellenoord 15, could not accommodate the expansion of its workforce as its outdated internal layout forced colleagues to work far from each other.
A new building was considered, but upon inspection, UNStudio found that the basic structural shell itself was sound and could be maintained and improved. According to the company, the renovation has reduced CO2 emissions by about 40% compared to a completely new construction.
The building is 32,000 square meters (approximately 340,000 square feet) with an eye-catching metal-mesh façade and plenty of glass. Most of this goes to government offices, but it also has a large light-filled atrium and dining room.
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“From a distance, the building has an unpretentious appearance, but is accentuated by large details such as voids, windows, roof joints and clearly recognizable entrances,” explained UNStudio. “The new office floors are designed around the idea of gradients of activity. We create the ideal workspace for your needs. “
The building features an energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling system, with climate ceilings (hot or cold water is piped to heat or cool the area like a chilled beam) to help maintain a comfortable temperature. ).
Solar panels on the roof supply about 35% of the electricity demand, and an array of sensors are also installed throughout, allowing real-time energy usage monitoring. In addition, Fellenoord 15 features significant landscaping and plant species selection, alongside insect hotels, bat boxes and hives, all of which help improve the biodiversity of the area.
Fellenoord 15 has been awarded the BREEAM-Excellent Green Building Rating for its energy efficiency.
Source: UN Studio
