Vertikal Nydalen in Oslo – an award-winning low-energy building with "Triple-Zero" ambitions
Vertikal Nydalen in Nydalen is Norway's first naturally ventilated office and residential complex with a revolutionary low-energy solution for building automation. With a "Triple-Zero" ambition, the goal is to demonstrate how natural air conditioning can achieve 0 kWh of purchased energy for ventilation, heating and cooling.
Visit a reference projectSolution
Natural ventilation , Hybrid Ventilation , Heating
Location
Oslo, Norway
Sector
Commercial Buildings
Project Type
New build
Ambitious goals
A new landmark is now rising on the former car park at Vertikal Nydalen. The building, which is based on innovative environmental technology, has been selected as one of FutureBuilt's model projects. And that is precisely why very high ambitions have been set for sustainability. The natural ventilation solution chosen for the building contributes in particular to achieving near-zero energy consumption. In addition, the project aims to reduce CO2 emissions from materials, transport and energy by 50% compared to other similar buildings, be easy to maintain and use only materials and solutions with low GHG emissions. For Snøhetta, the architects behind the project, the building had to be easier to operate, require less maintenance, have a long service life, good room height, natural light, a healthy indoor climate and no noise from technical installations. All this could be achieved with WindowMaster's natural ventilation system.
"WindowMaster's expertise and know-how have been crucial to the development of the natural ventilation solutions we have used in Vertikal Nydalen."
Tor Helge Dokka
Chief Advisor, Skanska
Optimal indoor climate all year round
By utilising the building's thermal mass and making the façade intelligent, it is possible to maintain a comfortable indoor climate and temperature all year round. This is achieved by means of automatic natural ventilation, which is used on the office floors from the 2nd to the 7th floor of the 18-storey complex. The natural ventilation solution works with pressure differences in the wind on the façade (speed and direction), the temperature outside and inside, and the CO2 level inside. The data on these parameters determine how the façade windows should respond and how much air should be let in. In addition, diffuse ceiling ventilation is used in meeting rooms where there may be a high occupancy rate, in order to maintain a high level of air quality even in winter. In summer, air is let in directly through the automatically controlled windows located high up in the façades, while in winter it is let in through beautifully designed veneer chambers located in the ceiling, from where the air can seep in through perforations, eliminating draughts.
Intelligent understanding of cooling needs
The automatic windows, which are controlled by intelligent software, are located high up in the façade, while other windows that can be opened manually are located low down. The two window types have different functions. By letting air in through the high windows, draughts are avoided during the cold months, while the low windows let in a larger amount of air in the summer, when it can get hot. In this way, the building functions like a person who can take off and put on warm clothes depending on the weather, instead of turning the heating on and off and using energy to do so.
"The air coming directly from the façade will feel fresher than if it passes through a ventilation system. In addition, it is possible to create higher ceilings without large pipes for ventilation ducts, as well as reduced noise from technical installations."
Terje Løvold
Project Director, AVANTOR