Regenerative Architecture

REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE KASPER GULDAGER JENSEN Architect MAA, Director of GXN and Partner in 3XN, Visiting Professor, Aarhus School of Architecture

ARKITEKTSKOLEN AARHUS

SUSTAINABILITY

REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE KASPER GULDAGER JENSEN Architect MAA, Director of GXN and Partner in 3XN, Visiting Professor, Aarhus School of Architecture

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Organic vegetables is grown inside Green School Stockholm atriums.

SUSTAINABILITY

ARKITEKTSKOLEN AARHUS

GXN collaborated with Aarhus School of Architecture in creating the studio ‘Regenerative Architecture’. A master program that investigates new forms of symbiosis between the built environment and natural systems.

Regenerative Architecture is a mindset

from the renowned ‘Katrine og Alfred’

es electricity from the kitchens leftover

for all of our work, where we are par-

greenery in Odense be used to make

biomass. Traditional ‘waste to energy’

ticularly sensitive to building design

a sustainable alternative to plywood.

technologies produce greenhouse

as it affects people, nature and socie-

Today they actually have a disposal

gases, however the pyrolysis plant

ty. This approach results in a positive

fee of 500dkk for each tons dry bio-

byproduct is biochar, a carbon rich

impact on the local social, ecological

mass, so upcycling also can not only

compound that will be used as soil

and economic spheres. With Regen-

result in healthy building materials

fertilizer in the surrounding landscape.

erative Architecture, we turn negative

but also form positive business cases.

aspects of a building into positive

The Biological House will be built

Green Solution House opens in Rønne

results: creating buildings that pro-

in Middelfart early 2016 with digital

spring 2015 and is a half renovation

duce more green energy than they

parametric manufacturing and repre-

and half new build. All revenue from

consume; specifying materials that are

sent a price compatible alternative to

the business will be ongoing be in-

or can be recycled; developing solu-

traditional Danish Housing.

vested into new green solutions.

tions that support nature and enhance biodiversity. Regenerative architecture is not just responsible and healthy; it

Green Solution House

is also economical and circular.

This hotel and conference center is located on Danish island of Bornholm and has an ambitious goal: to elimi-

The Biological House

nate the concept of waste. Inspired by

GXN takes part in designing and de-

Cradle to Cradle all materials used in

veloping Denmark’s first house built

the fan shaped building are described

from upcycled agricultural waste.

into either biological or technical

Through dialogue with the industry

circles, and hence biodegradable or

many resource streams can be up-

recyclable. The building also has an

cycled, ex. can tomato stem fibers

integrated pyrolysis plant that producPAGE 45

ARKITEKTSKOLEN AARHUS

SUSTAINABILITY

‘REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE OPTIMIZES GOOD, NOT JUST MINIMIZES BAD; IT CREATES A POSITIVE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT’ KASPER GULDAGER JENSEN Visiting Professor, Aarhus School of Architecture

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SUSTAINABILITY

ARKITEKTSKOLEN AARHUS

Green School Stockholm

The school emphasizes local food pro-

Inside the public area of the building

In short the project aims to be a

duction techniques; showcasing an ar-

is an organic food store, where the

manmade ecosystem of urban farm-

ray of innovative green solutions such

organically grown vegetables from

ing producing food for the entire

as hanging gardens, vertical farming,

the greenhouse are sold. The Green

neighborhood. The building supports

living walls and algae facades.

School’s kindergarten is located di-

regenerative thinking seeing carbon

rectly adjacent to a birch grove. Here,

dioxide as a resource for growth, cre-

Wide atriums open up the green

ating a green, learningful and healthy

school to accommodate spontane-

the children get their own safe oasis.

indoor climate; a building where

ous learning. This green pathway

Green terraces outside the building

social interaction and synergy across

through the school culminates with a

allow pedestrians to ascend the build-

generations takes place. Green School

large greenhouse as the focal point.

ing and move from the lower north-

Stockholm is a new school concept

The greenhouse encompasses three

ern side of the site up and across the

with a modern approach to sustaina-

enclosed levels for maximum produc-

street to the higher southern side. The

ble living. By actively educating about

tive growing and extends upwards

building thus becomes a productive

locally grown food, and by creating

with hanging gardens and vertical

extension of the planned green corri-

a multitude of green exterior public

farming alongside the student and

dor for the area as well as an avenue

spaces, the building encompasses a

senior residences.

for the public.

Stems from tomato plant

Board made from tomato stems

full lifetime of sustainable living: from kindergarten to high school, college dorms to senior apartments.

Example of Upcycling

Visit at tomato greenery

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