An embracing common space

DTU Sustain has established a new research building at DTU in Lyngby, named "112". The build has a very simple structure, which is both highly functional and very transparent.

Waste recycling research now has its own laboratories spread across four floors of the research and tuition block. The field is referred to as "Resource Recovery Research", which is highly relevant in a society where we need to increase our recycling of everything that we surround ourselves with. For DTU, the building itself has been a marker of the institution's own ambitions towards greater sustainability, which meant that the build was therefore pre-certified to DGNB Gold standard. Among other things, a number of LCA calculations were performed for the building components in order to assess the building's CO₂ emissions.

Its interior design is also flexible to accommodate future needs. Building 112 is characterised by the high ceilings on each floor and its large windows, which contribute both large amounts of daylight and a strong sense of openness. The building is oriented in relation to the corners of the world so that the work spaces do not overheat and to ensure a good indoor climate for employees. South, east and west windows are equipped with automatic sun protection that is integrated into the facade.

An inviting communal space

The openness inside the building applies both between its interior and exterior, but also between the various spaces inside the building itself. There are views into the laboratories from the corridors and communal areas, with the triple-height room in the middle of the building being experienced as an extreme zone of openness between the floors. At entrance hall level, you are met by an area with lounge furniture and Troldtekt line design on the walls. As you allow your gaze to wander upwards, this open space continues upwards through the house with some offset features. By way of contrast to the functionally clinical laboratories, the dining area and informal meeting places on each floor have been furnished with other, less sterile, materials to make them more accommodating and friendly.

Uniform Troldtekt line design in natural grey has been used on ceilings, the walls between the window sections and on a two-storey end wall. Not only do the Troldtekt panels serve as sound absorbers, which is very relevant in such a large room, but their linear design also creates a strong cohesion between both rooms and surfaces, which can be described as simplicity to great effect. The furniture is simple and comfortable, using green as a consistent colour tone, with the wood used on the corridor ceilings in the corridors and window niches also contrasts with the white laboratories.