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Brørup Sparekasse, Fredericia

New Building in Fredericia, Jylland, Danmark – design by schmidt hammer lassen architects

3 Nov 2010

Brørup Sparekasse

Location: Jutland, Denmark

From schmidt hammer lassen architects, an innovative architectural project with DuPont™ Corian®

Brørup Sparekasse changes skin: a new dynamic look for a new dynamic life

Architectural innovation in building facades has come to Denmark via a dynamic project for a new branch of Brørup Sparekasse bank in Fredericia, conceived by schmidt hammer lassen architects.

The new offices of Brørup Sparekasse (over 1600 square metres located on the junction of Vejlevej and Vestre Ringvej, replacing an existing two-level office building) is characterized by external cladding made with DuPont™ Corian® high performance surfacing material within a ventilated façade concept. This high-impact project is the first application of DuPont™ Corian® in terms of the external cladding of buildings in the Nordic countries and among the first pioneering installations of its kind in the world.

Photos : Jens Nygaard

Within the development of a new corporate identity, Brørup Sparekasse wanted to change its image in the local community and among employees and to attract new customers. The management of Brørup Sparekasse contacted schmidt hammer lassen architects because the studio is internationally known for its capability to create architectural solutions which are both functional and challenging. The practice is also renowned for its innovative and sustainable design, for its democratic approach to architecture and its ability to conceive buildings which are closely integrated with their surroundings.

The intention was to create more than just a typical savings bank: the project had to reflect the long-standing close relationship in the area between Brørup Sparekasse and its customers and the local community. The aim was to create a building that merges values and service, both aesthetically and functionally. The three level building comprises an urban plaza to the east, which flows into the main building and entrance, at which point the façade is inwardly inclined. The opposite end of the building culminates in a drive-in feature, designed as a dynamic shape in synergy with the sculptural expression of the building. The interior, which opens towards the urban plaza to provide a vista to the urban garden, is fluid, with a strong visual synergy between each of its three levels. The interior opens towards the urban plaza and gives views to the urban garden.

The façade neatly integrates square windows, adding “vibrancy” to the resulting visual composition and emphasizing the building as a sort of “dynamic sculpture”. schmidt hammer lassen architects had initially explored the possibility of achieving these aesthetic effects via more conventional materials such as ceramic tiles, plaster or aluminium. The search for a façade with a significantly homogenous look them to a cladding solution consisting of panels made from DuPont™ Corian®.

“The façade is made with panels of DuPont™ Corian® of different size and geometry, creating a sort of puzzle. Seen from a distance, the building seems enclosed into a homogeneous and seamless skin, even if the panels have a certain distance from one another. Coming closer to the building, the façade reveals its composition: panels of different size and geometry separated by small distances to create a giant white puzzle, reminiscent of a giant Tetris. The size, geometry and flow of the panels around the building reflect a precise mathematical pattern that creates the building envelope,” explains architect Klaus Petersen of schmidt hammer lassen architects.

“We used the distance between the panels, necessary for technical reasons, as the key concept for the aesthetic appeal of the building. We made such a gap between the panels the starting point for developing a façade with a unique and unusual high-tech pattern. The windows are incorporated into the jigsaw of panels in DuPont™ Corian® as black squares which add further interest to the aesthetics of the entire building.” adds Klaus Petersen.

The demand for versatile and quality materials for external cladding in the built environment has become significant, especially due to the increasing popularity of ventilated facades. DuPont™ Corian® offers a higher performance than many conventional solutions for external cladding due to its excellent combination of durability, renewability and design flexibility,” says Helle Jensen, DuPont Building Innovations, area manager of DuPont™ Corian® for Denmark.

“People are often surprised by the versatility and the effectiveness in architectural applications, such for Brørup Sparekasse, of a material that was originally created by DuPont for superior performance and beautiful countertops for kitchen and bathroom. But, yes, what you see in Brørup Sparekasse is DuPont™ Corian® again, in one of the many transformations enabled by DuPont technological and marketing expertise, and by the creativity of architects and designers, like schmidt hammer lassen architects, and our highly qualified partners specialised in its fabrication. DuPont™ Corian® is a chameleon-like material, a material which is still in its infancy in terms of possible developments and which, we believe, is ideally suited to closely following the continuously evolving needs of architecture and design,” adds Helle Jensen.

Brørup Sparekasse building in Fredericia, Denmark – Building Information

Client: Brørup Sparekasse, Denmark, www.broerupsparekasse.dk
Office area: 1.610 sqm
Location: Fredericia (town located in the eastern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark).
Architecture: schmidt hammer lassen architects, Denmark
Developer/general contractor: MT Højgaard, Denmark, www.mth.com
Creation of the façade and the windows system: Henning Frøkjær, Denmark, www.hf-as.com
Fabrication and installation of the panels in DuPont™ Corian®: Altha, Italy, www.altha.it
Engineering: Tækker Consulting Engineers, Denmark, www.taekker.dk

Brørup Sparekasse images / information received 031110

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Location: Denmark

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About schmidt hammer lassen architects

With more than 20 years experience, schmidt hammer lassen architects is one of Scandinavia’s most recognised, award-winning architectural practice committed to innovative and sustainable design. schmidt hammer lassen architects’ work pays particular attention to the intimate connection between buildings and their context, using natural resources, such as light, as an integral part of the design process. The functionality of each project is key, as is sustainability. Where possible the practice will also explore the vital relationship between art, design and architecture.

schmidt hammer lassen architects was founded in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1986 by Morten Schmidt, Bjarne Hammer and John Lassen, and is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian architectural traditions – democracy, welfare, aesthetics, light, sustainability and social responsibility.

The practice firmly believes a building revolves around people and is not merely an architectonic shape. Today, the practice has grown substantially and employs 110 staff, with offices in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Oslo and London. Partners now include Kim Holst Jensen and Stephen D. Willacy, along with three associate partners. Day-to-day management of the practice is the responsibility of CEO Bente Damgaard.

About DuPont™ Corian® – An exclusive product of DuPont, DuPont™ Corian® is a high performance surfacing material used in a wide range of applications in segments as varied as hospitality, healthcare, catering, publics spaces and retail, as well as in home furnishing, furniture, lighting and decorative objects.

DuPont™ Corian® is a composite, non-porous surfacing material that is stain-resistant, easy to clean, durable, renewable and repairable. Available in about 100 standard colours, DuPont™ Corian® can be shaped into virtually any conceivable design.

About DuPont™ Corian® in the external cladding of buildings – DuPont™ Corian® high-tech surface offers a higher performance than many conventional solutions for the external cladding of buildings due to its excellent combination of durability, renewability and design flexibility. It can be fabricated into a variety of shapes and contours with different surface textures and finishes to create customized designs; flexibility in joint treatments allows use of hard and soft joints for non-conspicuous monolithic designs, revealed joints, and even open joints for rainscreen designs; low or medium polish, matte, sandblasted or etched surfaces can be created along with three-dimensional textures that include geometric, organic, or random patterns pressed into the surface of the material.

DuPont™ Corian® is a lightweight, high-strength material that is compatible with typical building materials, structural silicones and sealants. It has excellent resistance to chemicals, pollutants, salt environments and UV rays, in addition to great durability and weatherability properties with low moisture absorption and freeze/thaw resistance. DuPont™ Corian® high-tech surface is easy to fabricate, install and maintain, including also graffiti removal and finish restoration.

About DuPont – DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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picture from the organisers