University Building Winning Proposal 3XN Architects

Courtesy 3XN Architects

3XN Architects shared with us their competition winning proposal for the new university building in Uppsala, Sweden. Their design concept bridges the past and the future by extending the lines from the historical surroundings into an innovative structure. Pointing towards future through its flexible and open spaces, it encourages new ways of working, studying and collaborating. More architects’ description after the break.

Courtesy of 3XN Architects

Uppsala University has more than 500 years’ of history and thus is one of Sweden’s most established institutions, complete with traditions and an esteemed regard. At the same time, the University is known as a modern institution for world class research and higher education. Thus, the vision for the new University Building is to bridge the past and the future by creating synergy between location, expression and layout.

The 13,000 m2 university building include a number of sustainable features such as natural ventilation and a facade design protecting from direct solar heat gain, while allowing plenty of daylight inside. Although the building has a light and transparent expression its compact structure minimizes the surface resulting in environmental and operational savings.

via : http://www.archdaily.com/211295/university-building-proposal-3xn-architects/

Saxo Bank / 3XN

Danish architects 3XN just sent us their latest finished project, a building for an online bank. This building was finished 4 years after winning an international competition back in 2004.

I like how the central stair adds dynamism to the interior, enhancing vertical relations.

Architect´s description, photos and drawings below:

Architect: 3XN

Engineer: Rambøll

Address: Philip Heymans Allé, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark

Client: Carlsberg Properties / Saxo Bank

Award: 1st prize in invited international competition 2004

Size: 16,000 m2 + 6,700 m2 basement

Completion: 2006-2008

Budget: DKK212m / €28,4m

Saxo Bank is a young dynamic internet bank with focus on online-trade with currencies, shares and futures on the bank’s self-developed platform, Saxo Trader. Saxo Bank was founded in 1992 in Denmark and counts around 850 staff members of 35 nationalities who serve customers from 115 different countries.

Saxo Bank’s new headquarter in Copenhagen is designed by 3XN. Although the customers primarily encounter the bank in cyberspace, the physical premises of the head office is of great importance to the management of the bank who participate actively and are highly dedicated to the development of the building. The building is of great iconographic significance, and there is a strong conviction that architecture and design affect each staff member’s performance and awareness of the company.

The architectural design is based on Saxo’s cutting-edge profile and branding. The lines of the building design define a sharp balance between reliability and dynamic expressivity in dialogue with the local plan. The building is shaped like two blocks with the end walls pointing towards the canal, joined together by facades that are withdrawn from the end walls. The facades are shaped like double curved glass that wave like a piece of textile.

The interior of the building is open and transparent with a large sense of community. The open plans centre round a softly shaped atrium with a glass roof. In the atrium, the main stair case winds up to the top. However, the main room and largest attraction of the building is the so-called Trading Floor where share prices are monitored intensely and resemble scenes from American movies about stock exchanges. Furthermore, the building encompasses a large number of rooms for technical support, kitchenettes and recreational areas.





Level 00 Plan


Level 01 Plan



Roof Plan




via : http://www.archdaily.com/20782/saxo-bank-3xn/

Middelfart Savings Bank / 3XN

© Adam Mørk

Architects: 3XN

Location: Middelfart, Denmark

Client: Trekantens Ejendomsselskab A/S

Engineering: COWI

Landscape Architects: Schønherr

Project Area: 5,000 sqm

Competition Year: 2005

Project Year: 2010

Photographs: Adam Mørk

Aerial view

© Adam Mørk

3XNs visionary and empathetic winning proposal unites the Middelfart savings Bank’s high ambitions for their new head office. The building must ensure a perfect environment for the employees, while also positively stress demands for high architectural quality in the future development along the harbour front.

ground floor plan

One large roof covers all functions in the building. The roof is a large elegant wooden structure with numerous openings. The openings bring in abundant amounts of daylight and allow for direct view of the sea from all places in the building, up and down. In this way, the light and friendly atmosphere sought for by the bank is achieved.

© Adam Mørk

The 83 prism like skylights compose the spectacular roof surface defining the geometry of the rest of the building – in reference to the maritime environment on the harbor front as well as the surrounding timber framed buildings. The roof is designed to frame a perfect view towards the Lillebælt waters as well with a functional purpose of shading from direct sunlight.

under construction

The new building is carefully fitted into the context. To one side, the village is respected by following dimensions, scale and the shape of the roof. Towards the harbour the building retracts and makes way for a new, triangular space that opens for the view. From the plaza, one enters a large, indoor ‘market place’, the heart of the building. At entrance level, a bookshop, a café and a real estate agent and the cash desk is placed.

© Adam Mørk

The rest of the bank’s area is spread at a series of terraces with open connections to the plaza and to each other. The terraces are connected by spacious staircases that provide good opportunities for the important informal meeting.

© Adam Mørk

© Adam Mørk

© Adam Mørk

With its central position, the building will become a natural meeting point for clients, staff and visitors. In relation to the surrounding city, a delicate balance has been achieved a beautiful, contemporary and well functioning building that integrates respectfully in the overall picture.

section

Internationally renowned artist Olafur Eliasson has created an art installation for the plaza. Six ‘shooting star’ kaleidoscopes inspired by the triangular geometry of the building are lowered into the ground floor granite adding an extra dimension to the structure.

Thermoactive Hydronic Elements

under construction

In addition to developing a comprehensive and holistic sustainable strategy for each project, the Research & Development department at 3XN scans the marketplace and actively implements latest technologies and sustainable innovations into our projects. Developed through the Danish Technical University, and now a part of the curriculum, the implementation of the latest technologies in energy efficient heating and cooling of buildings for the headquarters of Middelfart Savings Bank has been viewed as groundbreaking. The method utilizes the mass and ability of concrete to adjust the room temperature by absorbing and releasing heat. The method is based upon pre-fabricated concrete decks with embedded plastic pipes.

© Adam Mørk

Large Energy Savings

With these thermoactive concrete elements it is possible to reduce the energy consumption for heating by 30 percent and the energy consumption for cooling and mechanical ventilation by up to 85 percent; in total, an energy saving of 30-50 percent. This is due to the fact that the system allows for better use of alternative supply sources, i.e. the plant can operate as a low- temperature floor heating system during winter, based upon heat-driven heat pumps, and during summer, the cool night air, soil tubes, ground water or sea water can be used for cooling.

© Adam Mørk

The system is partly self-regulating as water for heating and/or cooling is circulated with a temperature only a few degrees from the desired room temperature, and this is the key to the large energy savings. In addition to energy savings the capital costs were lower due to the reduced needs for cooling and heating.
























First floor plan 



via : http://www.archdaily.com/57217/middelfart-savings-bank-3xn/

Roof Plan