Experiments.
How we build and transform buildings today has an enormous impact on people and communities, as well as the ecosystems that sustain us tomorrow. Through the Sustainability Strategy 2030 and the target “show how to build sustainability”, we experiment to show how the careful selection of materials, building techniques, utilities and design configuration of indoor and outdoor spaces can benefit both people and planet whether in transformation or new build projects.
“For two decades, globally throughout the VELUX Group we have initiated and participated in full scale demonstration buildings, showing and proving how our products perform positively for people and planet; we have, on this journey to inspire and advocate for sustainable buildings, shown great courage and willingness to engage in testing new solutions and designs. This is in our DNA of the VELUX Group, an experimental mindset combined with courage to innovate, even if not everything turns out as expected. If it did, it would not be innovation,” says Lone Feifer, Director of Sustainable Buildings.
Building on this experience, knowledge and courage, we have now taken on as a pioneer target to actually lead the way to a substantial change in developing, experimenting and discovering more sustainable ways and methods to build. The building sector is a huge carbon emitter, building with a heavy carbon footprint, totalling almost 40% of the global carbon emissions, and we do not have much time to change this. With Build for Life, we take the approach of full life cycle perspective as the way to build sustainably, and show the building industry how to drive real change in the future. We do this for both new build and transformation projects.
LKR Innovation House – Transforming our legacy
In 1995, Lars Kann-Rasmussen wanted to show that it was possible to build a sustainable facade in untreated Danish and Swedish Douglas fir. Despite the fact that experts had doubts whether the wood would degrade, a 9,500 m² warehouse was built in Østbirk. Nearly three decades later, the “expert” opinions were disproven as the facade is still healthy.
LKR’s courage to experiment helped set the foundation for our wooden building transformation story. Thanks to the successful wood construction experiment and the learnings we gained, we now know more about the longevity of timber construction and can begin experimenting in how to sustainably transform the warehouse into an innovation house.
By preserving as much as possible, in the façade, internal concrete walls and concrete floor, as well as the roof, the LKR innovation house will showcase the benefits of transformation projects. The innovation house will be the future centre for all main R&D activities in VELUX and further lift our ability to build capabilities in product innovation.
Living Places – Showcasing new build
Living Places, on the other hand, is an experimental living environment set out to demonstrate in practice, how new quality homes can be built with the lowest CO2 footprint in Denmark, and a first-class indoor climate. With our concept Living Places, we have designed a new way of building that reduces the environmental footprint by approximately 60%. A key difference is that the homes are wooden, built-to-disassemble, modular constructions that touch the ground lightly.
“In new build, it’s important to carefully consider each material, design and building technique to reduce the environmental impact and improve human health. With new builds, we have all the options at hand, why not make choices that are both good for our health and our planet?,” says Lone Feifer.
We build Living Places as prototypes, as an exhibition for the World Architecture Capital 2023 in Copenhagen; allowing us to engage with our customers and stakeholders on how we in the industry can experiment and pioneer innovative strategies, all while collecting and sharing learnings and data analysis. Living Places Copenhagen is our opportunity to collaborate and showcase for developers, contractors and other industry peers that low carbon construction is within reach for the building industry today.
Once we have shown the courage to experiment, then we can all look forward to a much greener and healthier future
Lone Feifer, Director of Sustainable Buildings
“The materials and technology to design sustainable houses are all here today. We will push for the industry to follow in our low carbon footsteps. Once we have shown the courage to experiment, then we can all look forward to a much greener and healthier future,” says Lone Feifer.
Experimenting is in the DNA of the VELUX Group and conclusions from our large portfolio of full-scale building experiments show that it is possible to build sustainable and healthy buildings based on the Active House principles, using the standard materials, methods and technologies available today.