Building InnovationGREEN DESIGN STRATEGIES

GXN/3XNStrandgade 731401 København K3xn@3xn.dkwww.3xn.dk

GXN–the Innovation Unit at 3XN Architetcts

Established in 2007 as an internal division, GXN has driven architectural research in the newest materials and building technologies. The ‘G’ stands for Green, highlighting GXN’s dedication to ecological design research through digital processes and innovative material solutions. The core goal is to develop a building culture that positively affects the world in which we, live both architecturally and environmentally.

GXN has developed partnerships with leading experts across various industries for inves-tigation in material research, data analysis, biology, and digitalization. Using applications of building innovation technologies from sev-eral disciplines allows GXN to create custom solutions for unique architectural challenges.

The Five Innovation Strategies in this book-let describe how GXN pushes the limits of research, design and commercial application in the quest for Better Buildings and Better Environments for People.

1GREEN DESIGNGreen architecture is not just responsible and healthy – it is also economical and important in the long-term

DESCRIPTION

SO WHAT DOES

THIS DO?

HOW CAN THIS

CREATE VALUE?

HOW CAN THIS

CHANGE THE WORLD?

DO YOU WANT TO

LEARN MORE?

Green Design Strategy is a mindset for all of our work, where we are particularly sensitive to building design as it affects people, nature and context. This regen-erative approach results in a positive impact on the local social, ecological and economic spheres.

Our focus is to take the negative aspects of a build-ing, and turn them into a positive result. For example - creating buildings that produce more green energy than they consume; specifying materials that either are or can be recycled designing healthier indoor en-vironments. We develop solutions that support nature and biodiversity and encourage it to thrive.

Through Green Design we create better environments for people increasing productivity, reducing sick days and providing a healthier workplace, through the choice of materials and design. This approach creates desir-able buildings that are cost effective in a modern real estate market.

Through the use of Green Design Strategies, we can have a major positive impact on the built environ-ment addressing its social, ecological and economic challenges.

Read about the following projects on 3xn.com• Green Solution House• Cradle to Cradle Pavilion• Urban Green

example of

GREEN DESIGN

Green School Stockholm

*Green School Stockholm is a new type of school concept with a modern approach to sustainable living. By actively educating about locally grown food, and by creating a multitude of green exterior public spaces, the build-ing encompasses a full lifetime of sustainable living: from kin-dergarten to high school, college dorms to senior apartments. The school emphasizes local food production techniques; show-casing an array of innovative green solutions such as hanging gardens, vertical farming, living walls and algae facades.

DESCRIPTION

DO YOU WANT TO

LEARN MORE?

HOW CAN THIS

CHANGE THE WORLD?

HOW CAN THIS

CREATE VALUE?

SO WHAT DOES

THIS DO?

Having the right information at the right time is essentialfor designing sustainable and cost-effective architecture

INFORMED DESIGN

2Informed Design Strategies are about the use of software to inform the process on a range of issues such as day-lighting, energy use, and local climate conditions before the final design is locked down.

Using parametric software tools, we can optimize the building design taking into account a range of issues. We can follow sun patterns or see how weather considerations anywhere in the world af-fect our initial sketches. This allows us to design for effective energy and daylight strategies and to successfully mitigate any potential design problems early on.

Using evidence and facts, the parametric software tells us information that previously we may not have known, until the design of the project was already locked down. This information now allows us to avoid costly mistakes, and to present an optimized design which can give facts on energy savings, indoor climate, etc.

Ninety percent of a building’s form and design are determined in the first ten percent of project design. Through Informed Design we can create smarter build-ings, that perform better, are more cost effective, and fulfill the needs of its users to a much higher at.

Read about the following projects on 3xn.com• Horten Headquarters• Mumbai Towers• Bayer Schering Pharma

example of

INFORMED DESIGN

Horten

*The unique geometry of the fa-çade on the Horten Law Offices posed a unique challenge to traditional construction meth-ods. A lightweight composite material in fiberglass, foam and travertine was developed for the exterior of the building. The façade design doubles as a three dimensional expression and an energy saving function by shading the building itself from direct sunlight while allowing plenty of northern daylight in.

3

DO YOU WANT TO

LEARN MORE?

HOW CAN THIS

CHANGE THE WORLD?

HOW CAN THIS

CREATE VALUE?

SO WHAT DOES

THIS DO?

DESCRIPTION

Knowing how architecture affects us, allows us to create buildings tailored to human behaviour

BEHAVIOUR DESIGN

Behaviour Design Strategies are about integrating psychology into the architecture of buildings – creat-ing better buildings with better conditions for peo-ple and function. This is an approach to optimizing performance of the building.

Optimizing the use and function of the building through logistics, floorplate and functional design allows for greater building performance. Architec-tural psychology applied to a building design can also forecast the effect it will have on people’s well-being and effectiveness.

Behaviour Design generates increased revenues and better employee productivity. Using behavior strate-gies to determine the relationship between function and space can also result in effects such as lower building cost.

Behaviour Design can get people talking together. It can calm children in the classroom. It can make passive people more active. It can shape corporate culture. Architecture, shaped by Behaviour Design can encourage people to find new paths, discover new aspects of the city - and of themselves.

Read about the following projects on 3xn.com• Middelfart Savings Bank• Ørestad College

example of

Ørestad College

BEHAVIOUR DESIGN

Most buildings are designed with-out any real knowledge about hu-man behaviour patterns in the built environment. Through examining elements such as spatial diversity, visual transparency, personalization and privacy, one can measure the significant impact on work envi-ronment, well-being and building performance.

*

4

DO YOU WANT TO

LEARN MORE?

HOW CAN THIS

CHANGE THE WORLD?

HOW CAN THIS

CREATE VALUE?

SO WHAT DOES

THIS DO?

DESCRIPTION

By learning from technologies in other industries, we cancreate entirely new and competitive products for thebuilding industry

TECHNOLOGY DESIGN

Technology Design Strategies explore processes where learning from one technology and transferring specific qualities or characteristics into another, results in a new product or completely new use.

For the customer, technology design strategies provide unique product solutions tailored specifi-cally for the project. Going beyond simply form and function, this results in smart solutions bringing an added efficiency to the project.

This is about operating on the cutting edge between core science and commercial solutions. The result can be amazing, such as new energy efficient mate-rials that push product development to in new and practical directions.

By taking the best from one technology and employing it for another purpose, technology design strategies can result in added qualities providing completely new solutions and products for the building industry.

Read about the following projects on 3xn.com under GXN - Projects • Gotham Light• Microshade• Integrated Façade

example of

TECHNOLOGY DESIGN

Gotham Light

* GXN developed it’s specially de-signed Gotham luminaire out from the newest solar cell and lighting technology. The lamp produces more energy that it uses and con-tributes therefore positively to its surroundings. Using a specially designed prism, the streetlamp collects solar energy and converts it into street lighting. The street-lamps are the result of a close co-operation between GXN’s Gotham luminaire and Scotia’s solar cell lamp post.

DESCRIPTION

HOW CAN THIS

CHANGE THE WORLD?

SO WHAT DOES

THIS DO?

HOW CAN THIS

CREATE VALUE?

DO YOU WANT TO

LEARN MORE?

By not setting any limits to imagination, the better wecan be at creating green and innovative architecture

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

5The engine behind GXN innovation, Experimental Design Strategies are about stretching our imagina-tions, taking architecture to the very edge of what is possible through the use of new materials and sophisticated software and design technologies.

It lets us determine what is digitally possible – and then what is actually physically possible. We experi-ment with tools such as scripting and parametric software to push development in products, process and architecture. This strategy results in a knowl-edge and know-how that feeds innovation into every-thing else we do.

Breakthroughs in technology are a part of Experimen-tal Design Strategies. We aim to take everything we know and to push that knowledge further to develop technologies as far as they can go. This has potential value for new patents or future product development, while being rooted in humanity - and creating a bet-ter built environment.

With Experimental Design Technologies, there is no end to the possibilities. Building on collected knowl-edge, pushing the boundaries and aiming for contin-ued discovery, GXN aims to transform the building industry and what it can accomplish.

Read about the following projects on www. 3xn.com• Louisiana Pavilion (look under GXN – projects)• Noma Lab• Bella Chandelier

example of

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Louisiana Pavillion

The Louisiana Pavillion demonstrates no end to the possibilities when combining sustainable and intelligent materials. Built from a bio-composite material (corn, flax fibre, soya beans and cork), the pavilion also integrates energy generating materials allowing the structure to be energy self-sufficient. The result is an example of how a building can take part in all aspects of the biological lifecycle.

*

MORE GXN INFOWWW.3XN.DK

‘GXN is dedicated to ecological design research through digital processes and innovative mate-rial solutions. We are inspired by the functionalities and forms of nature and we want to investi-gate how these can influence architecture’

Kasper Guldager Jørgensen, architect MAADirector of GXN innovation and Partner in 3XN architects

• Hear GXNs TEDx talk on how spiders, mushrooms, and algae can inspire tomorrow’s buildings.

• See GXNs work with sustainable Nordic wood and digital fabrication to create NOMA foodlab.

• Read GXNs publication on Danish Cradle to Cradle building manual for the Build Environment

GXN/3XNStrandgade 731401 København K3xn@3xn.dkwww.3xn.dk