Standard bearers of sustainable buildings
Five schemes that have pushed the boundaries of sustainable buildings and act as exemplars for future developments.
One of Impact’s goals is to highlight new green projects, innovative developments and forward-thinking ideas that will transform our cities in the next few years. But it is also important to remember that Europe already has some of the world’s most sustainable buildings. Here we present a gallery of some of the most remarkable assets that have been, and continue to be, an inspiration to the new wave of developments.
Edge Suedkreuz, Berlin
The Edge, just opposite the Suedkreuz train station in Berlin, was completed last year and is the largest freestanding wood-hybrid project in Germany – and one of the largest in Europe. By using a modular timber system, the weight of the building was reduced by almost 50 per cent and the floor slabs use 30% less concrete. Overall, the complex reduced embodied carbon by over 50%.
Conceived as an open ecosystem with architectural elements inspired by nature, the 32,000 sq m scheme consists of two freestanding, seven-storey buildings: the larger Carré, which hosts offices for the energy company Vattenfall; and the smaller Solitaire.
The Carré’s 26m-high atrium is the heart of the building with a soaring timber-lattice skylight roof. The atrium features four large columns that each mimic a tree’s trunk and canopy. These support a network of staircases and upper-level walkways.
The timber-hybrid project achieved a German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) Platinum rating of 95.4%, making it the most sustainable building in Germany.
The Edge, Amsterdam
Deloitte’s headquarters in the Netherlands, in the Zuidas business district of Amsterdam, is a large glass building that was certified BREEAM Outstanding. It scored 98.3 points out of the maximum of 100 – the highest rating ever awarded to an office building.
Its energy consumption is 70% lower than other buildings of a similar size. The towering glass structure, which gets its name from its sharp edges, is 40,000 sq m spread across 15 floors. Designed by PLP Architecture and developed by OVG Real Estate, The Edge resembles a giant glasshouse, minimising the energy consumption required for lighting. An innovative sun shading system helps to reduce glare while contributing to energy conservation.
The south facade is covered in a solar film which generates the electricity needed to power the office’s ethernet-connected LED lighting. This ethernet system uses lights as sensors as well as bulbs, transmitting data to control the energy management grid.
An aquifer thermal energy storage system has been installed under the building, which provides the energy used for heating, cooling, lighting, humidity, and temperature control – used when the passive ventilation system needs a boost.
One Angel Square, Manchester
One Angel Square, the Co-operative Group’s headquarters, is designed to be one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the world and was the first in England to be awarded a BREEAM Outstanding rating. It is a double-skinned glass building with a facade that heats in the winter and cools in the summer. Its unique triangular shape is designed to maximise natural light and ventilation year-round.
The roof opens to allow heat to escape in summer and is closed in winter to retain heat. The building is powered by a combination of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and geothermal.
It has an onsite CHP (combined heat and power) system that is fuelled by rapeseed oil. This means the building has a carbon-neutral operating footprint, generating more renewable energy than it consumes.
The Crystal, London
The Crystal, located in the regenerated Royal Victoria Dock in East London, is having a second life. Originally commissioned by Siemens, it was built in 2012 as an exhibition centre and sustainability hub and it has won awards as a modern and renewable energy technology model. In 2022 the building reopened as London’s new City Hall and is now the home to the mayor and the London Assembly.
The all-glass building challenges conventional ideas on sustainability, using technology to minimise energy use. Six different types of highly insulated glass have been used in the cladding, with different levels of transparency. Reflective glass is used on the backward-leaning facets which face the sun, while transparent glass is used on the inner facets that are angled towards the ground.
Powered by a combination of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and geothermal, the building has a zero-carbon footprint and a series of energy-saving and energy-generating features, including a wind turbine and photovoltaic panels.
Its large green roof is insulated, making the building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, while also providing a habitat for birds and insects. Inside the building there are water-saving features and sensors detect movement and adjust the lighting to avoid wasting energy.
The Cube, Berlin
Berlin’s ultimate sustainability showcase, The Cube has a distinctive broken design and a glass exterior that reflects the sky and the building’s surroundings. The glazed facade is highly energy efficient, with pioneering use of solar coatings on the outer skin of the double layer.
The double-skin glass and steel facade helps maintain a steady internal temperature, reducing the need for heating and cooling inside the building.
The building has a zero-carbon footprint through use of renewable energy sources. The heating and cooling systems rely on a combination of ground source heat pumps, solar thermal collectors and geothermal energy. Rainwater is harvested on site and reused in the building.
Inside, there are smart LED lighting systems, natural air ventilation and energy-efficient windows.