The European Investment Bank in Luxembourg recently won first place in the Emilio Ambasz Prize for Green Architecture for International Buildings. Completed in 2008 and designed by Düsseldorf-based Ingenhoven Architects, the tubular glass building has been praised for its environmentally conscious and energy-efficient design as well as its office layout that promotes interaction and communication. The innovative office building flanked by winter and summer gardens also achieved a rating of “very good” under the UK’s Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).
The EIB headquarters is a 170 meter-long tubular glass and steel structure with a zigzagging non-hierarchical office layout that allows for flexibility in the offices as well as interaction between employees. The 72,500 sq meter building has enough office space and facilities for 750 employees and includes an indoor ‘warm’ atria, a cafeteria, restaurant, and a connection to nearby buildings.
As the entire building is covered in glass (13,000 sq meters), daylight easily enters the building from all angles and light suffuses the open-plan offices. Operable windows allow the employees to directly control their temperature and bring in natural ventilation. A winter garden acts as a thermal buffer on one side of the building, effectively eliminating the need for heating or air conditioning.
+ Ingenhoven Architects
Via Arch Daily and Architonic
Although the cost of construction may be higher, the benefits of greening up a building would be bigger in the long run. Energy efficient buildings save up a lot on electricity and water, thus lowering their bills. Green architecture is also very conscious about the health of the occupants so it is less likely that lawsuits are going to be filed. Investing in this eco friendly technology is also advantageous because it seems to be the road to the future.
That is why I would like to congratulate the European Investment Bank for their award-winning green architecture. Good job guys!
Visit my URL site: http://architecturesite.info/green-architecture/looking-at-green-architecture/
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