Vitus Bering Innovation Park / C. F. Møller Architects

© Julian Weyer

Architect: C. F. Møller Architects
Location: University College Vitus Bering, Horsens,
Client: University College Vitus Bering Denmark
Landscape architect: C. F. Møller Architects
Engineers: Grontmij | Carl Bro
Contractor: Pihl & Søn A/S
Project Area: 8,000 sqm
Project Year: 2008-2009
Photographs: Julian Weyer

Teaching and entrepreneur start-up office facilities side by side – that’s the philosophy behind the distinctive extension to the existing 1970’s structure of the University College Vitus Bering Denmark in Horsens. The new Innovation building is designed to sit on a brick base, which is a direct continuation of the existing complex’ architecture, but from there on it is distinctly different and unique.

site plan

The building’s dynamic and innovative character is expressed via its spiral shape. On the facades, the movement is seen in the glazing strips that stretch towards the sky across the six storeys of the building and create the impression of a spiral sequence, while internally it is expressed via the main staircase in green fibre cement, which runs in a spiral form between the storeys in the unifying internal atrium. The inclined forms of the building also have the practical advantage of allowing a necessary fire escape route to be cut through the building.

© Julian Weyer

The basic floor plan of the building is a simple and flexible layout, to allow the integration of numerous uses and adaptations. The large and dynamic green stairway element leads to common meeting facilities and a roof terrace with a beautiful view of the Horsens Fjord. The stairs land in a different position on each level, thus activating the entire atrium as the central hub of the building. The atrium is covered by a dynamic, diagonally split roof-plane with circular skylights, of which one half forms the common roof terrace.

section

The Vitus Bering Innovation Park is one of the first office complexes in Denmark to be classified as low-energy class 1, which means that its energy efficiency is twice that of the minimum required by the Danish building regulations. The low level of energy consumption is achieved through such factors as highly insulating windows and extra insulation on all of the building’s external surfaces. Another feature is the building’s intelligent air conditioning system, which adjusts itself according to the number of people present in each individual room.

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Cite: "Vitus Bering Innovation Park / C. F. Møller Architects" 22 Feb 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 24 May 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/50096>

14 comments

  11. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    The whole are looks cool..
    But the green long stair is look scary..
    Not good for height phobia.. the idea to put vibrant/light color on this have successfully bring it forward, but also make this stair looks better as accessories rather it’s function..
    “Nice to be see but not enough comfy..”

    Reply
  12. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    great internal atrium and the green stairs-sculpture is just fantastic. the floorplan layout is simple and good. i’m just not so convinced with the facade design.

    Reply
  13. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I notice that none of the photgraphs show the roof garden which seems like an important part of the design. the photo’s that do show the roof space are carefully done to not show any of the roof itself (skylight picture, glass railing picture). my guess is that the garden was value engineered out. I hope that it get put back at a future time.

    Reply

Share your thoughts