Surrounded by dense forests is the production facility "The Plus" of the Norwegian furniture manufacturer Vestre. A look from above shows why the new building bears this name, as it looks like a large plus sign. In addition to the unique building structure, "The Plus" is particularly impressive because it is the first Nordic building of its kind to be awarded the highest BREAAM classification "BREEAM Outstanding" and has therefore gone down in history as an international model project.
The architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), together with Vestre, has created the self-proclaimed "world's most environmentally friendly furniture factory" with "The Plus" production facility, which will open in 2022. This view is shared by the jury of the Danish Design Awards, which described the production site as a sustainable solution that is committed to protecting biodiversity.
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Velux / Monica Snopestad / Colibri Content
In neighbouring Sweden, "The Plus" was also named the winner in the "Architecture of the Year" and "Sustainability Award of the Year" categories.
What makes the project so special
The building with its unmistakable shape was built to the passive house standard. This means that its energy requirements are largely covered by solar radiation and the heat emitted by the appliances and people inside.
An attempt has been made to counteract the greatest challenges of our time - climate change and the loss of biodiversity - in the best possible way.
As an industrial company, Vestre wants to play a pioneering role and set an example with its sustainable coping with natural resources. This also applies to the Velux Group, which wants to use its role as the world's leading roof window manufacturer to actively promote sustainable development in the construction industry.
The architects opted for a solid wood construction and the use of low-carbon cement and recycled reinforced concrete. Fossil-free and emission-free machines support the sustainable approach. The solar panels placed on the roof and grounds produce around 250,000 kWh per year.
In accordance with the passive house principle, the building is heated using the profit generated during production. According to the company, these measures generate up to 55% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional factories. The energy requirement of "The Plus" is stated as 13 kWh/m2 and, thanks to the good thermal insulation, energy-efficient skylights and windows and an advanced energy supply system, corresponds to an energy efficiency rating of A, the best value on the scale.
Velux / Monica Snopestad / Colibri Content
Lots of daylight thanks to Velux Modular Skylights
A total of 36 Velux Modular Skylights with 24 openable and twelve fixed modules were installed in the roof construction. The strip lights used, which achieve a Ug value of 0.6 W/(m2K), allow air to be exchanged as required and create a pleasant room climate thanks to the openable modules. Velux Modular Skylights are characterised by the fact that the narrow profiles maximise the amount of daylight entering the building.
The total of twelve light strips, each consisting of three modules, provide plenty of daylight in all four production areas of the factory. In the event of an emergency, smoke and heat extraction modules (SHEV) provide the necessary safety for employees and the building. The four wings - the wood factory, the paint factory, the installation and the warehouse - are arranged around a central courtyard at the heart of the building, enabling an open and efficient workflow. Extra-large modules were used for "The Plus", providing an elegant solution for comfort ventilation and effective smoke extraction. The installation of the continuous rooflights was carried out by installation teams from Velux Commercial.
Service included
In addition to supplying the products, Velux Commercial also concluded a service contract with the customer to carry out the annual inspection of the modules. Service contracts are a central part of Velux Commercial Norway's business model, and the number of contracts is growing steadily.
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Jonas Nykänen, project manager at general contractor Ø. M. Fjeld, has had good experiences with Velux Commercial's products and service in the past: "Velux Commercial is reliable and delivers excellent quality. They offer good products, the corresponding documentation and provide support and respond quickly when technical questions arise."
With an ongoing service contract for "The Plus", Velux Commercial will visit the impressive building on a regular basis. And while it may not be the largest project in Norway, the attention given to the world's greenest furniture factory is great and provides a perfect example of the potential and aesthetics of Velux Modular Skylights.
Velux / Monica Snopestad / Colibri Content
