3XN ARCHITECTS
The Simplicity and Complexity of Architecture
3XN ARCHITECTS BEHIND BEHIND THE SCENES
3XN ARCHITECTS BEHIND THE SCENES
The Simplicity and Complexity of Architecture
FOREWORD Movi(e)ng Architecture Kristin Feireiss, Beate Engelhorn
3XN is one of the most success-
they ask if „architecture can
the construction of facades and
Danish architectural offices. The
„yes“, because it´s a moving
building industry forward.
ful and internationally known
founder and director Kim Nielsen
dance“ we definitely can answer architecture in every sense of
building methods, pushing the
the word.
So it is not a coincidence that
of his passionate work. This
3XN defines places and spaces
Scenes“ for their new exhibition
first showed his projects in an
creating an unique appearance
puts the relation between men and space on the first spot
was also in 2010, when Aedes exhibition about the influence of architecture on human be-
haviour. Now we are celebrating the offices 30 anniversary to
demonstrate that Kim Nielsen
through architectural settings,
and identity. The power of their work achieves to move people, places and technology to a better presence.
and his team are creating much
To reach this targets 3XN is do-
architecture gives cities and
able and resilient materials and
more then buildings. Their
their inhabitants an essential
added value in function as well as in living quality. And when
ing intense research on sustaintechnologies. Therefore they
founded the new branch GXN
that is developing new ideas for
3XN chose the title „Behind the at Aedes. Besides the fact that, like in a movie, the making of a project needs a lot of partici-
pants, partners and experts to bring it to birth – all is made to
have an happy ending: for the
partners in the building process, for the cities and places, as well as for the users of the architecture, spaces and facilities. Congratulations!
LAYERS
Space
Connection Envelope
Ingredients Evolution
Collaboration
"The most exciting stories are the ones which describe what is actually happening in the buildings. The art of architecture is to build a sculpture around the patterns of movement and the synergies that arise between people" Kim Herforth Nielsen Creative Director and Founding Principal, 3XN
INTRODUCTION
A building can appear to the
In this exhibition, 3XN has
silhouette. This simple image
of dozens of buildings. Some
viewer as a single object, a
belies an inherent complexity.
Architects are in the fortunate position of working “behind
the scenes,” seeing the multi-
included models and images
of them are built or under construction, others merely ideas. Each one has its own story.
plicity of people, stories, layers
Architecture consists of do-
a building.
of layers. Here they focus on
and processes that comprise
On their 30th anniversary, 3XN
takes a look behind the scenes, beyond an image of form and
façade, and tells stories from the process of creating buildings and from the collaborations established along the way.
zens, hundreds, or thousands four significant layers: Space, Connection, Envelope and
Ingredients. In addition, they
examine the Evolution of form
within and between projects and the Collaboration associated
with a single project and across different sectors.
SPACE
Architects shape space, and through space, behaviour. Simple layouts can create complex spaces that support people working, interacting, learning and living. Flexible open layouts, ample daylight, visual and physical connection and an attention to human scale are all hallmarks of the design included in this portion of the exhibition.
Why Do 2,500 Employees Need 5,500 Workspaces?
After four decades in Stockholm’s
the day, providing the best
Swedbank had outgrown its
professional and even social
central business district,
existing headquarters. It wanted a new building that embraced the working methods and
technology associated with banking in the 21st century
and reinforced its brand as an
innovative financial institution. 3XN’s design helps Swedbank
Swedbank
staff break old patterns by LOCATION Stockholm, Sweden CLIENT Humlegården Fastigheter FUNCTION Office Headquarters GROSS FLOOR AREA 45,000 m2 YEAR 2014
removing nearly every traditional, fixed office space and offering
instead a diverse range of flexible
environments. The interior design creates dynamism throughout
possible facilities for changing requirements. The furniture –
from standing desks to private
cubbies – supports a full range of work styles and tasks.
The design supports all ‘speeds’ of working: slow, medium and fast. Each employee can find
the right environment for his or her specific needs that day or even that hour.
SPACE / Behind the Scenes
More Behind the Scenes
Of all the contributions the
The design team created a
Swedbank headquarters, art-
hangs over the ramp to the car
architects made to the new
work was the least expected. Swedbank amassed an im-
pressive collection of contemporary art to adorn the public
areas of its new headquarters. Inspired by this and seeing an unrealized opportunity deep
in the building, Humlegården,
the project’s developer, invited 3XN to contribute an art piece
Swedbank
– in the basement.
colorful neon installation, which park. The shape is a clever nod to both the building’s plan and
a set of arrows pointing drivers in the right direction - art and wayfinding combined.
Swedbank
"There are people who have been here for 25 years and only met each other for the first time the week we moved in [to the new headquarters.] They had never crossed paths before, even though they worked in the same office" Bjรถrn Larsson Swedbank
Can a Building Dance? 3XN designed a new home
for the Stuttgart Ballet’s John Cranko School comprising a
number of uniform boxes that
twist rhythmically around a spine in an upward movement, cap-
turing the motion of a dancer’s
graceful pirouette. The physical form of the building subtly
John Cranko Ballet School
evokes the activity inside.
LOCATION Stuttgart, Germany CLIENT Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg, Amt Stuttgart FUNCTION Ballet School YEAR 2011
SPACE / Behind the Scenes
Quay Quarter Tower
Room to Grow The new Quay Quarter Tower
in Sydney features five ‘vertical
villages’ – groups of office floors that share an expansive atrium that brings daylight and views deep into the building while
providing visual and physical
connection for the staff. Some
base floors of the atria will have deconstructable floors that allow the size of the tenants’
allowing the company to expand without losing the connectivity the atria allow. As the special
floors would be deconstructed
after the building is complete, it means 3XN must design all of their components to fit in the freight elevator!
LOCATION Sydney, Australia CLIENT AMP Capital FUNCTION Office, shops, bars and restaurants GROSS FLOOR AREA 102.000 m2 YEAR 2014
SPACE / Behind the Scenes
‘village’ to grow with their needs,
Quay Quarter Tower
SPACE / Behind the Scenes
CONNECTION
Stairs can do more than move people between floors and structures can bridge more than water. Stairs can catalyse human interaction and create opportunities for unexpected meetings. Buildings can bridge gaps in the urban fabric, becoming nodes instead of voids. Referencing its surroundings and history, architecture can connect periods in time.
Colour as Context
Locating a new rail station on
tary colors for the Odenplan
to the surrounding buildings for
blend of five different terracotta
a prominent plaza, 3XN looked inspiration. Designers realized that the prominent shade of Stockholm is warm beige.
The Odenplan square had
already been designed, and the station building was to stand
on a strip of granite. 3XN began ‘matchmaking’ between the
Odenplan
LOCATION Stockholm, Sweden CLIENT Trafikverket FUNCTION Station GROSS FLOOR AREA 300 m2 YEAR 2011
granite and the surrounding
buildings. 3XN took a sample of the granite to Germany, where architects worked with NBK
Terracotta to find complemen-
station facade. The result was a tiles in three colors and two
textures. The different shades
of beige make up a subtle color palette, harmonizing with the surroundings and the city.
CONNECTION / Behind the Scenes
Less is More
This radical new interpretation of a high school features no corridors and few enclosed
Students quickly embraced
communication and self-
Kjaer Andersen reports that the
directed learning.
Ørestad College
said Kim Herforth Nielsen.
classrooms.The open environ-
ment encourages collaboration,
LOCATION Copenhagen, Denmark CLIENT Municipality of Copenhagen FUNCTION College GROSS FLOOR AREA 12,000 m2 YEAR 2007
teaching and interaction,”
By eliminating corridors, 3XN
reduced the overall size of the building by 25% (4,000m2!) vs. a typical school. “Every
square centimeter is used for
their new school. Principal Allan administration spends much
less money removing graffiti, repairing petty vandalism or
other similar maintenance than in any other school building in which he has worked over his long tenure.
CONNECTION / Behind the Scenes
More Behind the Scenes
Students quickly embraced
other similar maintenance than
Kjaer Andersen reports that the
which he has worked over his
their new school. Principal Allan administration spends much
less money removing graffiti,
in any other school building in long tenure.
repairing petty vandalism or
CONNECTION / Behind the Scenes
A Cultural Connection
Molde, a Norwegian town of
front building, the town decided
one of the oldest jazz festivals in
perceived as the backside of
25,000 people, is the home of
Europe. Having featured names like Miles Davis, Sam Rivers
and Muddy Waters, the festival, established in 1961, put the
town of Molde on the world map. In 2012, Plassen Cultural Centre became a new venue for the
vibrant cultural scene, with a versatile concert and theatre hall,
Cultural Centre 'Plassen'
library and gallery. Instead of
opting for a monumental water-
to use a site that was previously town. Now the culture house connects the terrain with a
grand staircase, and has turned a gap in the urban fabric into an important node. On a normal
day, the roof of the building is a public space, with a great view
over the fjord, while at events all surfaces of the building, inside
and out, turn into one big stage with endless opportunities for the different performances.
CONNECTION / Behind the Scenes LOCATION Molde, Norway CLIENT The Theatre and Jazz House FUNCTION Cultural Center GROSS FLOOR AREA 5,800 m2 YEAR 2012
What if the UN City Staircase Had Been an Elevator?
UN City brings together eight
The original brief for the building
of the global peacekeeper in one
and not a stair, in the atrium.
different agencies and functions regional office in Copenhagen. These independent groups
inhabit the arms of the star-
shaped building. The arms come together in a central atrium
through which all employees
travel, making it an important meeting space. A central
staircase connects the floors
United Nations City
vertically and horizontally.
required two glass elevators, Believing strongly that stairs
can be a catalyzer, encouraging people to casually meet and
connect, 3XN proposed stairs
instead of elevators. Discussions followed. Proposals were made (including one stair that had
a bright orange interior finish, which designers abandoned because it would collect too much dust.)
The final wooden stair features
a black, high gloss exterior that
some refer to as a ‘piano finish.’ This is where the staff meet
their peers from other branches, make lunch plans and establish unforeseen collaborations.
LOCATION Copenhagen, Denmark CLIENT By og Havn A/S FUNCTION Office GROSS FLOOR AREA 45,000 m2 and 7,000 m2 basement YEAR 2013
CONNECTION / Behind the Scenes
United Nations City
More Behind the Scenes
Due to the nature of its activities,
Built on an island, a footbridge
building. The design features
nects UN City to the mainland.
UN City required a high-security special bomb security measures, including a film over all
doors and windows that, in case of explosion, can stretch up to three meters before returning to place. UN City is the only
with a security checkpoint con3XN designed this high-security accessway, ensuring that the
strict safety requirements were
met in a design that reflects the building and its surroundings.
building designed by 3XN for which they conducted bomb tests during construction.
CONNECTION / Behind the Scenes
ENVELOPE
A building’s façade is more than skin deep. It conveys a message about its owner and occupant, effects the building’s overall performance, contributes to the urban fabric of the neighborhood in which it is located. Façades can be low or high tech, guide or prevent views, inspire new solutions and represent dynamic design.
Museum of Liverpool
Start with the Finish
Jura Gelb, a form of limestone,
face of the stone, scratching an
especially its affordability and
results in a whiter appearance.
has many positive qualities,
resistance to saline environ-
attractive random pattern that
ments, that made it an excellent
3XN quickly saw the possibilities
of Liverpool. One initial concern
with the quarry to develop
choice to clad the new Museum for the architects, however,
is that the unpolished stone can appear yellow – and the Museum should be white.
When the project architect visited the stone quarry in
for the method and worked
the technique for production. The Museum of Liverpool
represents the first time that it was used on a large scale. The firm continues to employ the method on buildings today.
Germany to select specific
pieces for the facade, he saw that the staff at the quarry
was experimenting with a new finish treatment made with a
rotating wire brush. Using this technique, called “Katzschliff” in German, the brush gently
rotates across the entire sur-
LOCATION Liverpool, England CLIENT National Museums Liverpool FUNCTION Museum GROSS FLOOR AREA 13,000 m2 YEAR 2011
ENVELOPE / Behind the Scenes
ENVELOPE / Behind the Scenes
"The best design is often created under tough constraints; constraints that can be turned into design drivers and used to make informed and creative architecture" Jan Ammundsen Senior Partner, Head of Design, 3XN
Learning from Windmills
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspired by the windmills, the
quarters for Horten, a Danish law
panelized façade element that
While designing the new head-
firm, the project architect visited a factory that produces windmill blades. He quickly realized
that the technique used there
– ‘sandwiching’ foam insulation
between fibreglass – could solve 3XN’s challenge for the façade
Horten Headquarters
of the new building.
design team developed a
sandwiches an insulating foam
core between two layers of fibreglass composite, all capped by
an outer layer of travertine. It is
the world’s first self-supporting fiberglass façade
ENVELOPE / Behind the Scenes
LOCATION Copenhagen, Denmark CLIENT Carlsberg Ejendomme FUNCTION Offices GROSS FLOOR AREA 10.000 m2 YEAR 2009
ENVELOPE / Behind the Scenes
More Behind the Scenes
3XN designed the facade’s
and heat gain, and conveying
a number of client requests
and modernity of the practice.
complex geometries to satisfy and site conditions: ensuring
views towards the water for all
partners, limiting direct sunlight
a message about the strength
The result is a sustainable and sophisticated building.
83 Caps
Rumour has it that one of 3XN’s
3XN’s primary design challenge
a baseball cap at the time when
light for the employees. With
architects used to regularly wear the firm designed the Middelfart
Savings Bank. Legend has it that is inspired the bank’s charac-
teristic roof with many dormers.
was how to provide natural
a seaside site, architects had
identified the goal of providing
all staff with a sea view. In large
open spaces with many windows, there would, however, be con-
cerns about overheating, glare,
and distracting light reflections on computers. Therefore, the
design would also require some kind of screen, even if the main
Middelfart Savings Bank
façade of the building would be facing north, as the light from
the sky alone is strong enough
to disturb any indoor workplace. This is where the cap came
into play. The expansive roof is
actually one large window made up of 83 variations of dormers
with glass and built in, cap-like peaks. Rotating the building’s
bearing system and positioning the basic geometry perpendi-
cular to the shore (as opposed to a traditional rafter construction that would lie across the pros-
pect) resulted in long diamond
shapes, which both support the building and ensure the views.
The 83 caps were prefabricated and all mounted on the roof in only three days.
ENVELOPE / Behind the Scenes LOCATION Middelfart, Denmark CLIENT Trekantens Ejendomsselskab A/S FUNCTION Saving bank, Office GROSS FLOOR AREA 5,000 m2 YEAR 2010
INGREDIENTS
Materials, methods, knowledge and innovation all come together to make a building. Here we explore the development of new materials that help eliminate the concept of waste from the building industry, processes that save energy or time, collaborations that result in new solutions or unexpected opportunities to make a building better.
Noma Food Lab
An Architectural Recipe Widely regarded as one of the
tool to optimize the design
NOMA needed an inspiring
that the interior was designed and
best restaurants in the world,
‘experimentarium’ where chefs could continue to develop
Nordic cuisine. The NOMA Lab
and restaurant are situated in a
former warehouse that is on the national registry of protected
buildings. This meant that there to the columns the building and
that GXN was required to design the interior without using a
single nail in the walls or flooring. Ingredients
• 200 m2 protected former warehouse.
• 249 sheets of sustainable, Nordic veneer
• 520 unique boxes
• 5,283 individual parts
• 11,472 meters of CNC milling
delivered as a three-dimensional puzzle of over 5,000 parts that
were assembled without the help of craftsmen and without using a
single nail or screw. They achieved this by moving the generation
of geometry and construction
drawings from architect to the software that GXN developed
specifically for the project and
by manipulating the inputs in the software and the software itself,
resulting in a completely dynamic model that accommodated
changes made to the design,
right up to the point of exporting
drawings for manufacturing. Raw and simple, through colors and forms, it captures a decidedly Nordic aesthetic.
Instructions
GXN designed four central,
multi-functional freestanding
storage units, each composed of over 520 uniquely formed wooden cubes. These units
divide the room into smaller areas accommodating the
Food Lab, the herb garden, staff areas and office.
GXN created a digital parametric
LOCATION Copenhagen, Denmark CLIENT Restaurant NOMA FUNCTION Food Lab and Office GROSS FLOOR AREA 200 m2 YEAR 2012
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
could be no structure attached
process. In practice, this meant
Noma Food Lab
"Working with Noma gave a rare insight into how ingredients in gastronomy are undergoing a playfull mix of experimentation, surprise, flavour, aesthetic, devotion and curiosity. A remarkable world parallel to ours, when we are at our best" Kasper Guldager Jensen Architect, Director GXN, Senior Partner 3XN
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
The Blue Planet
With its dramatic swirling form,
Using these standardized and
construction of the Blue Planet
abled 3XN to build this beautiful
most visitors might think that
aquarium required hundreds of
custom-made elements. Would
you believe that this is an ‘off the rack’ envelope?
Every building component from the steel structure out to the
façade and roof is standardized LOCATION Kastrup, Denmark CLIENT The Blue Planet Building Foundation FUNCTION Aquarium GROSS FLOOR AREA 9,700 m2 YEAR 2013
- from cement gyp board to in-
sulation to the more than 11,000 aluminum shingles – nearly all can be purchased in a typical hardware store.
readily available materials en-
and complex structure within a
very limited budget. It cost less
than 5,000DKK per m2 (670 euro per m2) for construction from
the structural steel to the façade portion of the building. For comparison, building a typical brick
wall costs about 3,000 DKK per m2 (402 euro per m2.)
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
‘Off the Rack’ Aquarium
The Blue Planet
More Behind the Scenes
Sea otters are an endangered species, hunted to near ex-
tinction for their fur. A group of
conservation officials in the USA, where the otters originate, res-
cues animals that are abandoned in the wild and finds homes for them in zoos and aquariums.
make specific demands for their dressing rooms, sea otters have their own preferences.
Their watery habitat requires: a dedicated ice cube machine to
help keep the otters cool when
they are out of the water, which is kept at 8 degrees Celsius; quar-
antine area (should one get sick); and the otter MUST be able to
see 3 meters of horizon. In addi-
tion to the specific requirements for the habitat, 3XN’s designers had to ensure that there are no
exposed mechanical joints (i.e. screws, nuts, bolts) within the
area, because the otters will work them lose and use them to throw at zookeepers and scratch the
glass of the habitat. They have
been known to steal tools from
repair staff and hide them in their fur to use at a later time. Sneaky and smart!
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
Like rock stars and divas that
Exploring Circular Sustainability
The Green Solution House, a
project for which GXN directed the sustainability strategy, is a
hotel and conference center on the Danish island of Bornholm. The building and landscape
employ a holistic approach to
sustainable design, emphasizing regenerative solutions including healthy indoor climate, renewable energy sources, active materials and recyclability.
Green Solution House
The project demonstrates green solutions and how an organi-
zation, a building, and a group of people can have a positive
footprint. It also features a cir-
cular business model, meaning
that the profits from operations are reinvested in testing new sustainable solutions for the
buildings and landscape. The 75 green solutions range from high to low-tech, including ‘smart’
hotel rooms, various renewable energy solutions, renovation
strategy and rainwater reser-
voirs enhancing the park around the building.
Waste equals food. Green Solution
processed on site. Food scraps
redundant materials and puts
pyrolysis plant, which generates
House takes what it can from
these resources through new cycles of use. All new con-
struction and refurbishments
heat, electricity and biochar for the gardens. A biological water
purification system cleans waste-
consider principles of Design for
water from the main building,
material value into the future.
from a local artisan’s glass studio
Disassembly, aiming to maintain
LOCATION Rønne, Denmark CLIENT Hotel Ryttergården FUNCTION Solution House and Conference Centre GROSS FLOOR AREA 4.500 m2 YEAR 2012
become a valuable resource for a
Reuse, upcycling, recyclability, and the use of local material
resources are always prioritised. Waste streams are separated,
including organic waste, which is
which is reused on-site. Off-cuts
cover the outdoor paths. As long
as materials can be separated and cleaned, they remain nutrients
feeding other cycles and supporting the Green Solution House’s goal of zero waste.
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
More Behind the Scenes
INTERVIEW Trine Richter
Director, Green Solution House with the uncertainties of
the Velux Modular Skylight.
Green Solution House (GSH)?
My business analysis told me
Mørtel, SLA Architects and GSH
Tourism is Bornholm’s 2nd
biggest industry. The aim of
our project from the beginning
was to be a catalyst for growth on the island by extending the
tourism season. More than half of the 400,000 tourists arrive
during summer, and conferences are usually in spring and autumn. More guests throughout the year equals more work for
locals at hotels, restaurants,
museums, etc. Green Solution
experimentation?
that in order to attract guests and conferences the building had to offer state of the art
green solutions. Therefore, I
engaged with 3XN as design
you often stated, that you
needed to build an experiment. How did you as client deal
surrounding park.
for the enhanced comfort
experimental character. All
experiments we actually ended
up developing with shared risks
in local and global partnerships.
project?
During the building process
with Vegecol and granite - in the
with quite a few solutions of
the sustainable strategies
conference center working as a and solutions.
paths – a glass material blended
The team selected many of
How did the interdisciplinary
showroom for green materials
developed the top layer of the
responsible and GXN to develop
House had to be an attraction
in itself, a sustainable hotel and
Pernille Bülow Glas, Bornholms
collaboration influence the The interdisciplinary colla-
boration was necessary in the
development of Green Solution
House. Differences create innovative ideas and products. For example, GXN, Velux and GSH cooperated closely to create
the materials and solutions of guests. Have you had any
feedback about this aspect of the project?
Many guests mention the
daylight and the indoor climate. Guests in the conference
rooms claim to be less tired
after 8 hours in a conference.
We started a research project to prove the impact of the
solutions in Green Solution
House on guest experience
and behaviour during a stay.
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
Why was sustainability so
important for you for the
Building a House from Tomato Stems and Seaweed?
Denmark’s thriving agriculture
The organic materials are
millions, but squanders one of
a bio-resin, which can replace
industry creates food for
its most valuable resources:
residual products considered ‘waste.’ The Biological House takes these tomato stems, grass, straw and seaweed
and turns them into building
materials, instead of burning
The Biological House
them for energy.
pressed into new boards, using the standard plywood used in construction. The house that waste built!
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes LOCATION Middelfart, Denmark CLIENT Danish Ministry of Environment YEAR 2014 GXN ROLE Design, Research, Upcycling
The Biological House
"It sounds like science fiction that you can build a house from things such as tomato stems, straw and seaweed, which is just as durable as a normal building and at the same time has a healthy economy and complies with the rules. However, the Biological House shows that it is possible here and now" Kirsten Brosbøl Former Danish Environmental Minister
Each of the 300,000 tomato plants at Katrine & Alfreds
Tomater greenhouse grows 16 meters in a season. After they harvest the fruit, the growers cut, dry and bale the vines.
Then they pay 500 DKK per
ton to get rid of the waste. By
being able to reuse the ‘waste’ in the Biological House, it can be sold as a resource. This
turns an expense into income
for growers and farmers and is better for the environment.
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
Upcycling Waste from Agriculture
Building a Circular Future
Building to Take Apart
Why would architects, contractors and demolition experts redesign superstructures? To eliminate building waste and make a
business out of reusing materials Today we weld, glue and cast buildings together, making
them graveyards for valuable
materials. What if we considered how we take a building’s superstructure apart before we even put it together? ‘Design for
disassembly’ is a holistic design
us to reuse, reassemble and
recycle materials and products. Practically, this means using mechanical joints and connections (screws and bolts, that unlike nails, can easily be removed
without damaging the material), and lime mortar (which can be removed by hydro blasting or
broken off) instead of cement that permanently fuses two objects together.
approach whose intention is
Selling the reused building
including a building - easy to
cost into positive business.
to make any given product –
disassemble into all its individual components. A cornerstone of the circular economy, it allows
materials turns a demolition After 50 years the result is an
earning of 16% of the buildings total new build value.
More Behind the Scenes
The Danish building industry
Concrete crunched into road fill
waste. That is a measurement
per ton, a value 50 times lower
recycles 87% of all building of weight, not of quality or economic value.
has an average value of 5 euro
than that of a new concrete element. Almost all building waste
today is being down-cycled into the lowest value possible.
INGREDIENTS / Behind the Scenes
EVOLUTION
Start at the beginning. Form evolves through the iterative design process, responding to a developing understanding of the program, site conditions, client brief, new ideas, collaboration and conversation. Designers explore ideas, take risks. Each project – both built and unrealized - informs the next, building knowledge and value.
More than a Building
Folding itself upwards, 3XN’s
proposal for the new Nobel Centre in Stockholm becomes more
than a building: it encourages
interaction through its permeability towards the waterfront promenade and extends the
public realm into the building. Its rooftop landscape invites
people to experience Stockholm from a unique perspective. It is a thoroughly modern building
that respects its historic context through its careful attention to
elements such as height, volume
Nobel Center
and materiality.
LOCATION Stockholm, Sweden CLIENT Nobel Center GROSS FLOOR AREA 20.000 m2 YEAR 2013
Nobel
The Olympic Movement
In recognition of the symbolism
dynamic, undulating faรงade,
working needs of the organi-
from all angles and conveys the
of the Olympic Games and the zation, 3XN designed the new
International Olympic Committee headquarters around three key
elements: movement, flexibility and sustainability. With its
IOC Headquarters
LOCATION Lausanne, Switzerland CLIENT The International Olympic Committee FUNCTION Office YEAR 2014
the building appears different
energy of an athlete in motion.
Its open and flexible interior will adapt to multiple work styles now and in the future.
EVOLUTION / Behind the Scenes
Kubus LOCATION Berlin, Germany CLIENT Vivico FUNCTION Office GROSS FLOOR AREA 19,000 m2 YEAR 2007
Strong and Sculptural
Kubus combines a strong geometric shape with a
sculptural façade. Its bold form befits its prominent location
at Washingtonplatz in Berlin,
next to Europe’s largest railway station, Lehrter Banhof, and surrounded by Germany’s
Parliament and Tiergarten. The cube is a challenging
geometric shape, and with
important to provide the Kubus with a dynamism partly drawn
from its surroundings and partly
from what takes place within the office building.
EVOLUTION / Behind the Scenes
its 360-degree exposure, it is
La Tour LOCATION Aarhus, Denmark CLIENT JRP FUNCTION Residential GROSS FLOOR AREA 22,671 m2 YEAR 2014
Form Follows Function
Two site conditions shaped
tower sits nearby. 3XN’s gently
residential tower. Located near
of these elements, reducing the
the form of the new La Tour
a busy street, the design had to comply with the city’s stringent noise regulations. In addition, a historic and beloved water
curving design responds to both number of apartments close
to the road and enveloping, as opposed to confronting, the historic structure.
EVOLUTION / Behind the Scenes
INTERVIEW Daniel Markström
Director of Architecture, Humlegården Fastigheter that has undergone the most
expectation of a building’s
around Stora Blå (Big Blue).
development influence your form?
The challenge is to define a
program extensive enough so that it contains all the vital
functions and quantities but at
the same time can be solved in a number of ways. Of course,
you will have an idea of what it
could look like, but the obligation as a client/developer is to have an open mind. The evolution
takes place in the cooperation between the client/developer
changes is the master plan
You need to keep an open mind
felt right. The interesting
conclusions and decisions,
before landing on a plan that
thing was that the master plan was very much about place
making, the space between
the buildings. But those ideas
were tested, and evolved, when we started to work with the
individual buildings for different potential clients. The founding values were still the same. How does this evolution
Which project on which
It requires courage to work
3XN changed the most during the design process?
Evolution takes time. Quality requires time. Time drives
evolution, since the parameters
around you change. The project
strive for the latter.
We tried numerous variations
and the architect.
Humlegården has worked with
create, it’s our obligation to
affect you as the developer? in an evolutionary process.
Is 80% right good enough, or
should we start over to reach
100%? I think too many times, developers take the easy way. Considering the life span of
buildings and the places they
and be willing to reevaluate your especially in the early concept
stage. Be willing to kill a darling. The evolution process is a form of intellectual exercise.
EVOLUTION / Behind the Scenes
How does the program for a
COLLABORATION
Myriad voices contribute to a building, from the designer and client to dozens of technical advisors and consultants. Meaningful collaboration between and among all of these participants is the key to a successful project – one that meets the needs of users, owners, developers and the community in which it resides.
Quay Quarter Tower
Architect
City
Project Team
Specialty Consultants
Collaboration Across the Globe
To make a building it takes much
and consultants from around the
team hereof. The Quay Quarter
unfolds the various partners of
more than a single architect, or a Tower in Sydney is designed through a collaboration of
three main parties – architect,
client and city – each leading a professional team of designers
world. The collaboration mobile
the project, also envisioning the
future team of contractors. It does
not end here – on the contrary, the life of the building begins after the collaborators have finished their work, and then it is the user and
the people of the city that shape the future of the project.
Client Consultants
Contractors
COLLABORATION / Behind the Scenes
Client
QUAY QUARTER TOWER COLLABORATORS ARCHITECT 3XN Architects
Quay Quarter Tower
PROJECT TEAM
Project Engineer for Building Services, Electrical, Faรงade, ESD, BMU, Fire and Transportation:
ARUP Sydney
Competition Structural and Building services engineer:
ARUP Manchester
Competition Faรงade Engineer:
ARUP London
Structural Engineer:
SPECIALTY CONSULTANTS
Waste Management Consultant:
The Mack Group
End of Trip Consultant:
PFL Spaces
Accessibility Consultant:
Morris Goding Accessibility Consulting Wind Engineering and Air Quality Consultant:
Cermak Peterka Petersen Building Code of Australia Consultant: Group DLA Renderer: Doug & Wolf Animator: Squint Opera
Executive Architect:
CLIENT AMP Capital
Landscape Architect and Public Domain Consultant:
CLIENT CONSULTANTS Leasing Consultant: CBRE
ADG/BGE
BVN Architecture Aspect
Workplace Consultant:
Veldhoen Company Urban Retail Activation:
Jerde Partnership Brand Consultancy: Frost* Competition Organizer: Urbis Quantity Surveyor:
Buildability Consultant:
Pier Property Consultance Retail Consultant:
CITY City of Sydney
CONTRACTORS Plumbing Foundations Steel Roof Faรงade Electric Fire Surveillance Cranes
Central Sydney Planning Commission Sydney Design Advisory Panel New South Wales Transportation Department
Brain & Poulter
COLLABORATION / Behind the Scenes
WT Partnership
Ventilation Elevators Carpentry Masonry Flooring Painting Concrete Ceilings Insulation
INTERVIEW Louise Mason
AMP Capital Chief Operating Officer – Property
already been involved in the
design process for the Quay
where Sydney greets the world, Circular Quay.
Quarter Tower (QQT). Did the
How important is collaboration
collaborators surprise you?
With many different stake-
number or nature of any of these The number of stakeholders
involved certainly makes sense given the scale of this project.
From the outset we knew that an
international design competition would be held for Quay Quarter Tower, with six international-
ly-renowned architectural firms
invited to participate. The tower sits within a circa 11,000sqm
for a successful project?
holders involved in the project,
including government, authori-
ties, local partners, consultants, architects and engineers,
effective collaboration across all groups ultimately enables
us to deliver a greater outcome for tenants, investors and the community.
precinct bordered by four
Do you think that the common
buildings with public domain,
and Australian cultures have
streets and including four other infrastructure and heritage
considerations, all designed
under the framework of the 3XN Master Plan. The iconic location also attracted a lot of interest
amongst stakeholders, with the opportunity to help transform
values shared between Danish benefitted the collaborative process on the QQT?
The collaborative process
between AMP Capital and 3XN has been fantastic. There is
certainly a shared innovative
spirit between our nations - just
COLLABORATION / Behind the Scenes
Many different groups have
required the architect to con-
are renowned for architectural
their tower solution. 3XN refined
scraper in Australia, the Danes excellence, including Utzon’s
Opera House, providing a strong link between us dating back to
the 1950s and furthered today with Crown Princess Mary of
Denmark. You might also say we share a friendly, open-minded and easy-going nature, where
team spirit, humour and a positive outlook are highly valued.
Some base floors of the village atria in the QQT will have de-
constructable floors that allow
flexibility in the way that a tenant can achieve their particular
workplace strategy. Was this
design evolution the result of
effective collaboration between architect and the client?
Yes. 3XN’s initial competition
design responded very well to the competition brief, which
sider future tenant flexibility in the initial concept design to
provide for a diverse range of
opportunities for tenants’ cur-
rent and future demands, which is continually evolving with
tenant enquiry on the project.
COLLABORATION / Behind the Scenes
as AMP developed the first sky-
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Collaboration Across Industries
Innovation starts where
industries meet. Our innovation unit, GXN, collaborates with
professionals from all across the spectrum. With a mind
open to learning, new ideas get born and the harvest ranges
from innovative materials, new
business models and alternative ways of building. Through cross collaborations we create new al gic iolo e B use Ho
Th
can do, both for people and the environment.
Ph
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COLLABORATION / Behind the Scenes
definitions of what architecture
te ma Cli ity C
INTERDICIPLINARY INNOVATION
Material World Architectural Exhibitors (Danish Architecture Center) Philanthropic Association (Realdania) Material Consultants (Arup Materials) Cradle to Cradle Masterplan Landscape Architects (SLA) C2C Architects (William McDonough + Partners) Developer (Delta Group) Climate City Landscape Architects (SLA) Process Sociologists (Rekommanderet) Waterway Specialist (Jonas Smith) Digital Factory Robot Programmers (Odico) Computer Scientists (DTU - Compute) Knowledge Exchange (NCC Construction) Agro Food Park C2C Architects (William McDonough + Partners) Planning Strategists (Urland) Masterplan designers (BCVA) Traffic Engineer (Via Trafik) Reinvent Paris Electric Car Manufacturers (Bolloré) Artists (Studio Roosegaarde) Urban Agriculture Operators (Les Fermes De Gally) Startup Supporters (The Family) Horten Facade Building Contractors (Pihl) Structural Engineers (Rambøll) Facade Contractors (Skandinaviska Glassystem) Foam Insulation (Diab Group)
Urban Nature City Museum (Museum of Copenhagen) Timber Craftsmens (Kuubo), Urban Farmers (Plantelaboratoriet) Landscape Architects (Schul) Gotham Light Light Concept (Scotia) Light Makers (EWO and Riegens) Photovoltaic Developers (Q-Cells) Electronic Suppliers (Scenetek) Biotope Gardens Landscape Architects (SLA) Timber Craftsmens (Kuubo) Biology Students (University of Copenhagen) Geologists (EASJ) BladeRunner Concrete Manufacturer (Confac) Robot Programmers (Odico) Computer Scientists (DTU - Compute) Mechanical Scientists (DTU - Mechanics) Technology Development (Teknologisk Institut) Building a Circular Future Building Contractor (MT Højgaard) Demolition Specialists (Kingo Karlsen) Constructing Architects (VIA University College) C2C Consultants (Vugge til Vugge Danmark) Innovation Engineers (Henrik Innovation) Photovoltaic Grid Photovoltaic Manufacturer (Gaia Solar) Technology Development (Teknologisk Institut) Energy Company (Seas NVE) Economists (Deloitte) Solar Energy Developers (Solar City Denmark) Steel Specialists (Steelhouse) Innovation Agents (Smith Innovation) Financial Institute (Nykredit)
The Biological House Building Architects (Een til Een) Technology Development (Teknologisk Institut) Building Contractor (NCC Construction) Economists (Deloitte) Engineering Consultants (Clausen Ingeniører)
Green Solution House Local Architects (Stenberg) Engineering Consultants (Esbensen) C2C Advisors (William McDonough + Partners) Window Manufacturer (VELUX) Philanthropic Association (Realdania) Saint-Gobain (Material Manufacturer) Software Developer (Autodesk) Project Engineering (Rambøll) Pyrolysis Plant Manufacturer (Frichs) Living Machine (Ove Lolland) Intelligent Indoor Climate (Strategic Innovation) Glass Artists (Pernille Bülow) BioBuild Composite Technologist (NetComposites) Contractor (Acciona Infraestructuras) Furan Chemists(TransFurans Chemicals) Engineering Consultant (Arup) University (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) Cork Composites (Amorim, Portugal) Composites Developer (IVW, Germany) Environmental Specialist (TNO, Netherlands) Standardizations (LNEC, Portugal) Construction Knowledge (SHR, Netherlands) Durability Expert (Exel Composites) Composite Manufacturer (Fiber-Tech)
Urban Green Plant Nursery (3kanten) Biologists (Nissen Consult) Green Roof Suppliers (Byggros) Allergies Specialists (Asthma-Allergy Denmark) Horticultural Graduate (Sunny) Politicians (City Architects) Biodiversity Monitoriers (Aarhus University) Business Developer (HedeDanmark) Cradle to Cradle Manual C2C Consultants (Vugge til Vugge Danmark) C2C Architects (William McDonough + Partners) Chemistry Designers (MBDC) Material Scientists (EPEA) Biology Professor (Peder Agger, RUC) Environmental Engineer (Alectia) Sustainability Engineer (COWI) Indoor Climate Specialist (Technological Institute) Professor of Building Services (Peter Luscuere) Sustainable Planning (Aalborg University) Resource Center (ARC) Nature Conservation (Danish Nature Association)
COLLABORATION / Behind the Scenes
The Integrated Facade Facade Engineers (Arup Facade) Facade Manufacturer (Permasteelisa) Aerogel Factory (Cabot) Composite Factory (Fiberline) Facade Inventor (Art Andersen)
Louisiana Pavillon Windmill Manufacturer (Skykon) Engineering Consultants (COWI) Binder Specialists (3M) Chemists (BASF and Ashland Inc.) Cork Composites (Amorim) Linen Manufacturer (Libeco-Lagae) Cytomechanics (Flex Cell) Electronic Suppliers (Phillips and Scenetek) Piezoelectric Technologist (Noliac Motion) Composite Specialists (Stage One, NetComposites) Chemical Nanotechnologist (Nano-X) Technology Development (TI and Risø DTU)
3XN ARCHITECTS Kim Herforth Nielsen founded
ning corporate headquarters for
parts. 3XN thinks that it is
Aarhus, Denmark. Now based in
Deloitte, residential buildings
of design, function and context.
3XN Architects in 1986 in
Copenhagen with an additional
office in Stockholm, four senior
partners direct the firm: Founder and Creative Director Kim
Herforth Nielsen, CEO Jeanette Hansen, Head of Design Jan Ammundsen and Director of
clients including Swedbank and and cultural destinations. 3XN, through daring concepts and design, creates architecture
that contributes positively to learning, living and working environments.
GXN Kasper Guldager Jensen.
3XN believes that a new building
the leadership group.
positive qualities to the site. This
Six additional partners complete
In 2007 3XN established GXN, an internal innovation unit,
whose mission is to collect and apply the latest knowledge on
materials and new technologies to the studio’s architecture.
The abiding philosophy that
architecture shapes behaviour guides all of the firm’s work,
from the revolutionary design of Danish upper secondary school Ørestad College to award-win-
should always add new and
happens through careful analysis of the area, the surrounding buildings and the client brief.
They see the project’s complexity and challenges as positive
forces, which inspire them to create something unique.
The firm creates places that
support interaction and com-
munication, and where synergy can grow.
Buildings, like people, are more than the sum of their many
possible to achieve a synthesis That is why a holistic approach
is the guiding principle, and why they are forever exploring the
possibilities of building better, cleverer, more beautifully.
Colophon Ausstellung / Exhibition 3XN Architects, Kopenhagen Behind the Scenes – The Simplicity and Complexity of Architecture
Katalog / Catalogue
30 April - 9 June 2016 Aedes am Pfefferberg Christinenstr.18-19 10119 Berlin www.aedes-arc.de
Katalog Gestaltung / Catalogue Design: Hans Munk, Mathilde Manz
Projektmanagement / Project Management Stephanie Miller, 3XN Architects
Druck / Printing Kailow Graphic
Projektmanagement / Project Management Beate Engelhorn, Aedes Berlin Ausstellungsteam / Exhibition Team Audur Hreidarsdottir, Kim Herforth Nielsen, Kasper Guldager Jensen, Jan Ammundsen, Jeanette Hansen, Casper Østergaard Christensen, Kasra Karimi, Ana Merino, George Cox, Rohan Goradia, Otis Harley, Shaun Ryder, Rebekah Tien , Yidi Xu, Christian Harald Hommelhoff Brink, Alexander Guldager Kongshaug
Herausgeber / Publisher Kristin Feireiss, Hans-Jürgen Commerell
Produktion / Production 3XN Architects
Fotos / Photographs © by 3XN, GXN, Adam Mørk, Ben Blossom, Jonas Eriksson, Rasmus Hjortshøj, CphCph, Justine Høgh, Stamers Kontor, Tuala Hjarnø © 2016, Aedes and the authors ISBN: 978-3-943615-35-7
Wir danken den Aedes Cooperationspartnern für ihre Unterstützung: We cordially thank the Aedes cooperation partners for their support:
Die Ausstellung wurde ermöglicht durch die freundliche Unterstützung von: The exhibition was made possible with the generous support of:
3XN.COM