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Geneva Dance Pavilion

Much like «a story within a story» our aim is to create a «world within a world», separated from the hustling and bustling of every day life. Visitors and performers are invited into a calm and playful, sheltered space designed to stimulate their senses and release creativity. Different programs are nested within each other, creating shells that unfolds and leads th ebody through different spatial experiences.

Dance here is understood as moments of movement in time, and our aim has been to make visitors a part of this motion. By layering the spaces where screens and openings overlap we intend to blur the boundaries between visitors and dancers, making our visitors part of the performance taking place. Visitors are lead through an enclosed exterior garden, through a slender pathway, into a wide foyer before entering an intimate performance space in the heart of the pavillion.

Our Aim

In our design we have focused on creating a unique atmosphere, uninterrupted by the outside world. This is achieved by a system of layers, making the outer wall an important feature of our design. The idea of a world inside a world, is for the benefit of creating a stimulating environment for artists and the public to meet, dance and be creative while exposing the Contemporary Dance Assocation (ADC) in a beautiful and interesting way.

We have focused on creating an integrated, sustainable and flexible design, by finding cost efective and practical design solutions. The impact of the project on site has been minimized and the existing vegetation integrated into our design. The project contributes a great deal to the existing city fabric by creating an integrated public space which can be used as a public garden (park), sheltered from the hard traffic of the two main roads, surrounding the sire. The lush garden could be a permanent installment for the area, adding to the cities green lungs, when the dance pavilion is relocated.

The Outer Wall

While the layering of spaces allows for interesting encounters and beautiful visual effects it is also designed for it’s sound insulating properties, in the way each layer gradually diffuses sound, protecting the inner core from disturbance and noise outside. The outer wall diffueses sound and light by dispersion, allowing for a protected area inside.

Glass fibre reinforced polymer rods with timber boxes produce an open structure for the wall, with the rods allowed to sway or ‘dance’ in the wind. Cantilevered out of a precast concrete strip footing at their base, the top of the rods are restrained with a cable between steel corner posts, providing deflection control and defining the form.

Transparency and patterns of the wall changes depending on prespective, revealing different areas of the interior, showing glimpses of what is going on inside. The pattern diffuses light and sound while shadows play on the ground adding to the unworldly experience. The elements moves in the wind and twists to make a dynamic rhythm as if dancing when the viewer moves, capturing movement in a cinematic effect.

Ensjø Mixed Use

Stor Oslo Eiendom Invited Various Architects as a wild card to compete against Nordic,  A lab and Lund & Slaatto. The task of the design competition is to develop the site at Enjsø area, east of Oslo center. The program is mixed use of commercial, office spaces and housing.  The site is adjacent to Tyngdepunkt where massive housing and commercial development are underway.

OKV14

Various Architects has been commissioned to design an extension on an existing one-floor house at Røa in the West of Oslo. The original house is from 1936 and made by the famous Norwegian architect Sverre Aasland. The existing house has a view towards the Oslofjord in the South and Fornebu / Bærum in the West. The neighbourhood is characterized by all kinds of building styles from the last 80 years, and the existing house is the only one in the area with only one floor.

The main design concept was to make a modest and affordable extension that followed the existing structure and lines of the old house, while at the same time preserving the large open garden, and maximizing the view potential from the new second floor.

 

Schiphol Sound Barrier

The Schiphol: Create a Barrier of Silence competition is now completed. Various Architects and their international team received Second Place in the Business category of the competition. Although the project did not win one of the three main prizes we believe that we delivered a solid project that answered Schiphol’s call to innovation and sustainability. 9 companies and 27 individuals contributed to this project, and the high level of detail presented is a testimony to their dedication and teamwork.

“Dynamic Sculpture” is a design that will showcase Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. The iconic retractable wall achieves the required 7 dB sound reduction by combining new materials, sustainable design, and a simple yet spectacular lifting solution. The proposed Environmental Hub educational building and associated sustainable landscape park will create a world-class focus point for green technology and design. Together, these elements form a complex that would attract and educate visitors while also actively cleaning the environment, generating green energy, and recycling airport waste.

The competition parameters for sound reduction combined with the relevant airport and municipal regulations for building made it clear that a dynamic structure was necessary to meet all of the program requirements. The necessary ground noise reduction is achieved by designing a retractable wall of optimum height and closeness to the runway. Sound insulation of the wall is provided by the surface mass of the folded thermoplastic panels and by air-sealed connections when in the upright position. The position and shape of the wall are formed in response to the changing noise levels along the length of the runway, at the beginning of the runway the wall is placed relatively closer. It gently curves further away as the sound levels decrease with distance.

The 2.1km undulating wall is faceted into 10m sections comprised of: folded horizontal thermoplastic panels, steel lifting poles, a rolling counterweight connected to electric motors, and a base structure of precast elements. A high degree of prefabrication is specified to reduce on-site construction time and provide the necessary tolerances between the pieces. All aspects of the project have been designed to minimize the disruption of airport activity and to ensure that it can be built within the required 18 month construction schedule.

The development of a rolling counterweight lifting system provides the extreme reliability necessary for installations in the demanding airport environment. It also ensures a short conversion time for extension (3 min.) and retraction (1 min.) of the wall. The rolling counterweight on rails provides a spectacular visual element in the park and ensures the synchronised lifting of the wall. A redundant system of motors combined with a high mechanical efficiency and low friction moving components ensures that the wall will not get stuck in the up position, even under high wind loads. The mechanical nature of the counterweight connection of the wall to the counterweight ensures that the wall can be lifted and retracted, even in the extreme case of 10% motor failures.

The proposed landscape park would provide an educative layout of different environmental technologies on display for the public, as well as the production of electricity via solar, bio-gas, and bio-fuel production. The Hub Park creates a mini polder landscape where different technologies can be demonstrated, whereas the larger park area would be used for the cleaning of de-icing fluid, generation of electricity, and recycling of organic waste. Overall the park would provide a new public promenade for local residents, visitors, and plane spotters alike.

Yorkshire Renaissance Pavilion

Various Architects’ project «Yorkshire Diamond» was a finalist in the open international competition for a mobile pavilion for Yorkshire Forward. The Yorkshire Diamond Pavilion is a unique and iconic venue that is designed to represent Yorkshire Forward at events around Yorkshire and Humber or further abroad.

The project is an attraction in itself with a striking exterior in the form of inflatable tubes arranged in the atomic structure of diamonds. The 20 x 26 x 10 meter diamond grid volume is mined out to form a cavernous interior space reminiscent of the coal mines of Yorkshire. Light and air shafts pierce the structure providing natural light and ventilation. At night the translucent shafts and outer skin radiate light in all colors and directions like a diamond twinkling in the sunlight.

A focus on flexibility gives the pavilion multiple configurations which allow it to be used for everything from small gatherings to large conferences or public presentations. The voluminous internal space will surprise and delight when installed in close quartered public squares. The pavilion can also be turned ‘inside out’ to open up a large covered area to open outdoor spaces to create the ultimate mobile venue for concerts or big-screen events.

Innovative sustainable features that can generate energy during transport and while installed, together with lightweight recyclable materials will demonstrate Yorkshire Forward’s commitment to the environment wherever the pavilion is situated. Creative new uses of existing proven technologies make this pavilion design possible to produce and operate for a reasonable price.

Modular Bicycle hotel

Various Architects are designing new modular bicycle hotels. The bicycle storage space should be applicable in various situations in a city. Moreover, the aim for design of each modul is to offer another extra function for a public. The main principles of the project are flexibility, affordability, sustainability and production in Norway.

Design concept consists of three main moduls, which are possible to be mutually combined in various schemes. Either placed in a backyard, used on parking place on a street or as a temporary building with central sheltered corridor.

Furubråtveien 5

Various Architects has been commissioned to design an extension to an existing listed private villa in the Ekeberg hills in Oslo. The job also included to renovate the existing villa built in 1892. The design is based on the wishes of client and our discussions at meetings. We has focused on creating a harmonious solution of program and transition interior and exterior, villa and annex. The extension has been important to adapt to existing simultaneously as it gets good modern solutions and qualities. The plot gets plenty of sun and daylight from all directions as well as views of the islands and the bay.

The main house and the annex will work as one unit. The main building will hold all the main functions as well as the bedroom for the parents, while the extension will house the teenagers, and the visiting children. Better contact between interior and exterior is a desired quality. It is also designed proposals for entrance to below property that is wanted sold for residential purposes.

The extension will house bedrooms for the three teenagers, bathrooms, laundry, daily entrance for the family and a livingroom that will also function as a bedroom for the older children. In conversation with the Office of Cultural Heritage has accepted this principle with extension north of the protected existing house as long as the connection is a lightweight, transparent volume. Cultural Heritage Management proposes guiding principles as the use of wood as a facade material and gable roof.

Oppdal Centrum Masterplan

Various Architects, together with Adept Architects (Copenhagen) and Lalaland (Oslo) have prequalified for an idea competition for a new city center in Oppdal, Norway. Oppdal is known as one of Norway’ best winter skiing destinations, and is recognized as a place with beautiful nature. Today E6 (the road from Oslo to Trondheim) cuts through the middle of town, but the road will soon be moved to a paralell path allowing for the development of a new «downtown» in Oppdal. 4 teams, out of 18 applicants, have been prequalified to present their ideas about creating the new Oppdal Centrum. The 3 other teams competing are Snøhetta, Asplan Viak, and a constellation of Narud Stokke Wiig / Rojo Arkitekter / Gullik Gulliksen / Norsam. The competition will be delivered on March 18’th.

Sorgenfrigata Loft Renovation

Various Architects developed the renovation project for a loft in Majorstuen, Oslo. The loft floor is currently used as storage space.

The project will include two identical new 120m2 loft flats with hidden rooftop terraces. Each flat will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The main living space is visually connected by big roof arc to the backyard, looking directly to the crowns of big trees. The new roof windows towards the street of Sorgenfrigata are carefully adapted to the placement of fasade windows. The rooftop terraces are completely unseen from the street, aligned with new roof windows.

Skagen ØKOntor

To demonstrate our commitment to the environment and support for the COP15 Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Various Architects AS of Oslo, Norway together with engineers from Ramboll UK in Bristol and Pollen Architecture in Austin, Tx have designed the Skagen ØKOntor (“eco-office”) as a model for sustainable low-energy/low embedded carbon office buildings that are suited to the nordic climate. With a calculated net energy consumption of 72 kWhr/m2/yr* the ØKOntor is the most sustainable office building currently planned in Norway.

We wanted to present the developer with an environmentally friendly alternative for their site that was both innovative and buildable. This design is site specific, but it contains many concepts that can be applied elsewhere in the Nordic countries.

The building’s wooden facade of individually operable insulated shutters is it’s most visible and dynamic feature. Floor height shutters can be opened during the day to allow in daylight and passive solar heat, or closed after sunset on cold days for added insulation. The shutters can transform the facade from 60% to 20% window area. The inside surface of the shutters are tiled with LED lights to produce artificial daylight during the dark winter months to help provide a well-lit and healthy working environment year round. The insulated shutters are calculated to provide an additional 15% savings on heating yearly.

The natural resources of the seafront site are all carefully utilized by the design. 4 Quiet Revolution wind turbines on the roof provide 24.000 kWhr of clean energy (10% of the building’s energy demand). The windy and often overcast weather on the norwegian west coast, combined with long dark winter nights made wind a more efficient alternative to solar panels in this case. The sun is controlled for solar shading and passive heat in the west facing atrium space, and through the many south facing windows. Sea water is used as an energy source for both heating and cooling via water cooled heat pumps and sea water free cooling. This, coupled with high efficiency air heat recovery, demand led controls, and high levels of thermal insulation have significantly reduced the thermal plant demand. Natural ventilation is possible for most of the year, with cooling through refrigeration only necessary when sea water temperatures are at their peak (no more than 4-8 weeks a year). Green roof surfaces collect and filter the area’s prodigious rainfall in rooftop water tanks for use in low-water fixtures and fittings, reducing the need to waste treated water.

Low embodied carbon materials were chosen where possible to reduce the project’s overall CO2 footprint. A structural system of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel walls and floors was chosen for being locally sourced with a high level of carbon sequestration. CLT represents a significant reduction in embodied CO2 compared to a traditional concrete or steel frame. The building exterior and insulated shutters are clad in Kebony, a norwegian wood product that is sustainable, low-maintenance, and suitable for the exposed seaside climate.

The newly implemented TEC2007 norwegian building directive requires the energy marking of all new buildings. From 2010 office buildings have a maximum allowable energy use of 165 kWh/m2/year (Energy grade C), a typical office building today uses around 270 kWh/m2/year. At 72 kWh/m2/yr the ØKOntor would achieve a Grade A energy rating, less than half the required maximum. Norway does not have a Passivehaus certification system yet, but the ØKOntor complies with the certification principals of heat recovery, excellent airtightness, summer solar shading, high levels of thermal insulation, using useful passive solar/equipment heat gains and a net energy use of less than 75kWh/m2/yr.

Various Architects and Ramboll believe that the ØKOntor project demonstrates that architects, engineers, and developers of new office buildings should push harder to develop highly energy efficient buildings with a zero net-carbon construction. We should not accept the minimum reductions required by law as standards, but should see them as a challenge to do better. Good luck to the COP15 representatives.

 

*Energy estimates calculated by Ramboll using IES dynamic modeling software.

Wroclaw Cont. Museum

Various Architects AS registered and qualified to enter the international architectural competition for The Wroclaw Contemporary Musuem in Wroclaw, Poland.

The proposed ca. 23,000 m2 museum program includes: Exhibition space of about 4500 m2, a high multi-functional entry area, a multimedia club of about 600 m2, high-ceilinged storage space of about 3000 m2, about 7500 m2 for other activities and administration.

Our goal in designing the Wroclaw Contemporary Museum is to create a functional forward looking building that is modern and timeless. Our design creates a unique and dynamic building that is not formed arbitrarily, but takes it’s shape directly from the complex workings of the museum program and it’s associated functions. The program and form become one to give an optimal experience to museum staff and visitors alike. The building design carves out a generous naturally lit open public space in between the massive closed and artificially lit gallery spaces. It is this contrast in built form that makes for a rich and exciting experience when visiting the museum. The transition from open to enclosed space takes place through the dynamic and twisting glimmering white veil that separates “everyday” experience from the “wunderkammer” which is the Wroclaw Contemporary Museum. The veil which envelops the museum volumes also flows out through the foyer and into the park, thus extending the reach of the building into nature and making a physical connection to the National Gallery and the Panoramą Racławicką.

Re:Vision Dallas

The complex problem presented by Re:Vision Dallas demanded an interdisciplinary response leveraging knowledge and experience in a range of fields. Various Architects gathered and led a team of 27 individuals which included architects, engineers of nearly every sort, sustainability consultants, landscape architects, permaculturists, and educators. While our proposal is ambitious, it is also grounded in the expertise and experience of these individuals. In other words, it is feasible. While many of the ideas are unique, they have been carefully considered and our team has the requisite expertise to execute the project in a productive collaboration with the client and the city of Dallas.

The result of this collaborative effort is a carbon-negative housing scheme that uses a combination of simple environmental principles to create 537 unique apartments with a strong sense of community, urban vegitable gardens, zero-wastewater, great daylight, natural ventilation, passive heating and cooling, and massive 1.46 mW of solar pv power generation.

The project is focused around the east-west flowing Green Canyon and the rammed earth community and education center. This green corridor features a greywater treatment river, a landscape of fruit trees, nut trees, and native grasses. At ground level there is pedestrian access to 7,000m2 of commercial space is dedicated to sustainable businesses, education, wellness, and live-work spaces that reduce the occupants reliance on the automobile. The housing units themselves vary from 3 bedroom flats over two levels to small co-housing apartments with common kitchen and dining facilities that foster community and make more efficient use of resources than individuals living alone. All of the apartments in the project are double-aspect with window openings on two sides for daylighting and cross-ventilation. The apartments are divided into vertical communities that center around garden spaces which also double as community gatering areas. Each apartment has more than 5m2 of vegitable garden space allotted. The 120m tall triangular tower has an exoskeleton of pre-cast concrete with a high fly ash content, this allows us to build each four floor apartment section out of carbon friendly structural timber with a straw-bale exterior. This would be the world’s tallest straw-bale structure. The southern and middle blocks are constructed in a similar manner with a steel bracing frame for support.