WESTRAVEN

Sem- 8th

Preyan Mehta

A.B.C.

Location: Griffioenlaan 2, Utrecht, NetherlandsClient: Ministry of Housing And ConstructionGfa: Total 53,000 m2; New construction 23,000 m2;

Renovation 27,000 m2; Grounds And Entrance 3,000 m2Realization: 2007

Photography: Jannes Linders

WESTRAVEN

WESTRAVEN

Integral buildingThe new office is an example of integral building. The old Office tower originates from 1973 and used to be a so-called“sick building” dealing with problems such as a bad indoor climate, asbestos and a leaking house front. The existing tower is surrounded by new construction of low building wings. The visionary architectural concept of the architect’s firm Cepezed required an innovative approach to installation Which Grontmij realised.

WESTRAVEN

Sustainable techniquesIn the building many sustainable

technique have been used such as ‘concrete core activation’. This is a way

of cooling and warming the buildingthat uses the building mass and which is integrated in the floor

construction. This technique is combined With energy storage in the ground and

the utilization of warmth pumps. By storing warmth or cold in the ground

and using this in another season the indoor climate is kept to the desired

temperature with minimum energy use.

Additionally there are four climate zones in this building: an office climate, conservatory climate, entrance climate and a courtyard garden climate (sheltered from the wind). These climate zones form the basis of the integral design.

WESTRAVEN

A passive intelligent buildingThe goal of this building was to build an intelligent building that can adapt to different uses and different external influences. Examples of this built-in intelligence are:Cooling and warming via ‘concrete core activation’The building front which keeps most of the wind and sun out without completely shutting them out.Conservatories which dampen the climate influences from outside and have a useful function.

WESTRAVEN

Biodynamic lightingIn this project it is the first time that biodynamic lighting is used at such a large scale. The system is derived from the Carpe diem system of Philips, but is not entirely the same as it uses different fittings. The intensity of the light and the light colouris adapted to a human’s biological clock. The light and the colour of the light changes gradually during the day.

WESTRAVEN

A word by ArchitectMuch attention has been devoted to realizing perfect equilibrium between low energy consumption and an optimum working climate. For this purpose, an ingenious climate concept has been developed which makes use of thermally active floors. Various types of space have been climatizeddifferently, the heat of air flows is recovered at several points and the artificial lighting adapts itself automatically to the colour and intensity of the incidence of daylight.

Furthermore, a revolutionary feature is the innovative second-skin façade of open-weave, teflon-coated glass fibre

that offers all-round protection against the wind and makes it possible to work with open windows, even on the top floors.

As a result, the staff enjoy great freedom is regulating their own interior climate, which is quite a luxury for high-rise

construction.

WESTRAVEN

Preyan Mehta21(B.Arch(C.T.)/10)

Location: Griffioenlaan 2, Utrecht, NetherlandsClient: Ministry of Housing And ConstructionGfa: Total 53,000 m2; New construction 23,000 m2;

Renovation 27,000 m2; Grounds And Entrance 3,000 m2Realization: 2007

Photography: Jannes LindersArchitects: CEPEZED Architects.

SEM- 8th