When we design sustainable buildings, architectural concepts come first and technical solutions second. We look for the most logical main structure, layout, and choice of materials. A compact building block with low transmission losses through its facades and roof makes a good start for a low-energy building. We use daylight and orientation to guide us in composing the building. Maximising the daylight levels in the interior while at the same time minimising the thermal load from solar input can help save a lot of energy, making a building more economical to run as well as more sustainable. We strive to maximise the use of removable mono materials (C2C), reused and/or reusable materials, and low-maintenance materials. Our philosophy is that natural and nicely weathered materials add to the character of a building and improve its environment.
Our architectural concepts are complemented by the use of technical systems to support sustainable low-energy solutions, including underground thermal energy storage, activated concrete cores, heat recovery and ventilation on demand. Whenever possible, we like to keep a building energy-neutral by producing local energy, for example by means of PV panels.
We have ample experience in a number of methods to monitor and control sustainable construction by means of e.g. GPR Building, Breeam, Greencalc+ and LEED.
