MOEDING: a Swedish office building with maximum energy efficiency!

 

Located on the campus of Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, this office building was designed by Swedish architectural firm Wingårdh under the direction of Gert Wingårdh. The architect chose a spectacular five-story, 5 m² conical construction to achieve his energy goals. The building, which stands out sharply from its surroundings in both shape and color, was constructed on a former shipyard near Lindholmen in Gothenburg. Its name, "kuggen," meaning cogwheel in Swedish, comes from its shape, which resembles a stack of gear wheels that increase in size with each floor. This unusual architecture is explained by the project's specific approach, where everything is subordinated to energy efficiency. Each cog corresponds to the size of an optimized office space. The triangular ceramic surfaces are glazed in five different shades of red chosen by the architect, two variations of green, and one black tone. The special panels from MOEDING Keramikfassaden GmbH, laid in a clapboard pattern, form the building envelope with alternating glass surfaces.   Symbiosis of technicality and design quality This cylindrical building in the middle of a square dominated by rectilinear buildings is an urban motif with roots in the Italian Renaissance. As the central building of the square, it is connected to the other buildings by functional footbridges and symbolizes, through its very architecture, the link it provides between the university, research, and entrepreneurship. "Kuggen" presents itself like a multicolored flower delicately placed among gray leaves. At the same time, its multifaceted façade reacts positively to the climate thanks to its proximity to the port. The multicolored enameled slabs make this building an impressive work, particularly thanks to the architect's choice of clapboard shingles. Added to this are the great variety of shapes, the character and particular personality of the glazed terracotta, the subtle variations of the basic colors red and green, and, not least, the enameled surface, which also awakens our desire and sense of touch. This building also aims to be an ambassador for numerous techniques and ideas used for energy optimization in its various segments.   Shading: Thanks to its conical shape, the upper floors protrude from the lower floors each time, in an accentuated way on the south-facing facade. The building thus shades itself when the sun is high. In addition, the upper floors are protected from the heat by a rotating device that follows the path of the sun. This constantly modifies the architecture of the building, which is adorned with more than one dress whose shades constantly vary according to the angle of view and the exposure of the moment thanks to the shiny surface of its enameled terracotta plates.   Use of natural light: The theatrical setting, in the middle of a rather architecturally inert square, is immediately experienced as impressive and lively. If you get closer, the "kuggen" almost bares its teeth. The triangular shape of the 195 aluminum windows, however, was dictated more by a functional priority than an aesthetic one. The total glazed surface was thus limited to a quarter of the building's envelope, limiting heat loss while allowing an optimal supply of natural light to the heart of the building.   External heat losses: Of all geometric bodies, the sphere has the largest volume for the smallest surface area. The conical "kuggen" comes close to this ideal. The crucial ratio between usable surface area and outer shell has been optimized. Overall heat loss to the outside has been minimized with the support of the suspended, insulated, and naturally ventilated terracotta façade. The energy savings of the "kuggen" system are also based on timely choices inside the building. Intelligent control systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning also contribute to increased efficiency.   Preservation of natural resources: The architects were primarily concerned with the sustainability and longevity of the materials, especially the building envelope, which is exposed to the elements of wind and rain. For this reason, they chose a suspended terracotta façade, a material that is 100% recyclable for final reprocessing, non-polluting, and has proven itself over thousands of years. MOEDING's Longoton ceramic shingles, installed horizontally and measuring 582 mm in height and up to 1 mm in length, meet the highest ecological requirements. Their lead-free glaze also contributes to environmental friendliness. This building in northern Sweden perfectly embodies the key challenges of green construction: energy optimization, longevity, sustainable development, and user comfort. Taking all the building's systems into account, the annual energy consumption is less than 955 kWh/m55.    The construction site in brief:   Realization :   Swedish architectural firm Wingårdh, Gothenburg Delivery : 2011 Terracotta product : Longoton glazed porcelain stoneware shingles from MOEDING Surface area: Approximately 2.700 m². For more information about MOEDING and its products, please visit the website. www.moeding.fr or contact us at 06 75 89 03 06     About Moeding Moeding Keramikfassaden GmbH is a subsidiary of the family-owned Girnghuber GmbH – GIMA group. Based in Marklkofen, Germany, about 250 kilometers from Munich, the company has around 60 employees and sales partners in over 80 countries. A pioneer in the development of cladding in the XNUMXs, Moeding markets its products under the Alphaton® and Longoton® brands. More information on www.moeding.fr