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The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenAptly named The Crystal, this shimmering building is the new headquarters of Nykredit, a financial services company in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/copenhagen">Copenhagen</a>, Denmark. Thanks to the project's triple-glazed facade the interior is flooded with daylight, but not at the cost of overheating. Its crystalline surface captures, refracts and reflects light as it dramatically lifts up from a new public plaza. <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/schmidt-hammer-lassen/">Schmidt Hammer Lassen</a> designed the geometric structure and made sure to incorporate a number of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/sustainable-building">sustainable strategies</a> to provide a holistic solution that will save a considerable amount of energy.1
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenThe geometric form is tilted to appear as though it sit on a single point and a single line, floating like a delicate crystalline structure over the plaza.2
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenIts scale was specifically designed to match the surrounding buildings and fit in with the urban context, matching both the more modern and historic buildings nearby.3
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenThe interior is laid out to be flexible and functional even over time as demand for space changes.4
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenA Z-shaped layout creates two atria the pull light down into the interior of the building.5
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenThis ensures that every work station is well lit with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/daylighting">natural daylighting</a> and enjoys a good view.6
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenA <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/high-performance-facade">triple-glazed facade</a> is the key to having an energy efficient yet totally transparent office building.7
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenThe outer glazing system was printed with a subtle silk print design that mitigates solar ingress, cuts down on glare and enlivens the building's facade with a bit of texture.8
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenThe facade also helps cut down on noise pollution from the nearby busy road.9
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenNatural ventilation of the building involves a night-time cooling strategy, where the facade is opened allowing air to move through the glazing then up and out through the atria's skylights.10
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenOverall, the collection of energy efficiency strategies reduced the energy use to 70 kWh per square meter, which is a 25 percent decrease from the existing energy legislation.11
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer Lassen<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rainwater-collection">Rainwater</a> is collected and used as greywater to flush the toilets.12
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenSea water from the nearby harbor is used as the sink for the building's geothermal heating and cooling system.13
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenThe 6,850 sq meter building then gets a significant portion of its electricity from a rooftop solar system that generates 80,000 kWh per year.14
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenA model of The Crystal.15
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenSite plan of the Crystal in the context of the surrounding urban environment.16
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenDetail site plan of the Crystal.17
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenLevels 1, 2 and 6 along with a cross section of the Crystal.18
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenEast and southwest elevations.19
The Crystal-Schmidt Hammer LassenWall cross section and detail of glazing.20
