Extensive skylights bring science and technology to life

Hands-on experience of science and technology: This is what the Experimentarium science museum in Hellerup, north of Copenhagen, is all about. A place where young and old can come together to (re)awaken their interest in science and technology and raise awareness of scientific research. The existing building from the turn of the 19th century was once part of a well-known Danish brewery. Since the early 1990s, the old bottling plant has been in use as a museum. As part of an extensive renovation, the Experimentarium was extended with an annex, thereby doubling the exhibition space and adding a number of new spaces.

Adam Mørk/Velux

Natural daylight creates a special experience

During the refurbishment, two large atriums were integrated into the building, which now form a strong visual contrast between the bright common areas and staircases and the dark exhibition rooms. To provide plenty of daylight and fresh air, CEBRA Architects decided to install twelve atrium light bands consisting of a total of 159 Velux Modular Skylights in the roofs of the two atriums.

[Twisting museum in the Norwegian woods]

The modules are linked by drainage channels and are supported by on-site beams. These beams also serve as a substructure for the installation of the daylight modules. 24 of the skylights can be opened and form an integral part of the building's ventilation system. During the installation work, it became clear that more ventilation modules would be needed. Luckily Velux's prefabricated modular system with standard sizes and uniform installation meant that the fixed modules that were already installed could be easily replaced with opening ventilation modules after the fact. The Modular Skylights can also open quickly in case of fire to extract smoke through the roof.

Adam Mørk/Velux

Generous incidence of daylight

A special highlight is the newly created entrance area of the building complex, with its eye-catching copper-clad spiral staircase in the centre. It winds its way up four floors, reminiscent of a neatly peeled apple. During the installation of the staircase, another advantage of Velux Modular Skylights came into play: The copper staircase was one of the last building elements to be lowered through the atrium roof. Afterwards, the roof had to be closed as quickly as possible. The short installation times of the prefabricated Velux Modular Skylights made this possible ease. When the sunlight now falls through the skylights, it creates spectacular light reflections in the copper.

[A covered shopping arcade with a dual pitched skylight]

The renovation of the Experimentarium shows that it is possible to create attractive spaces even in renovations and extensions. An essential element in this is the generous incidence of daylight through the roofs of the atriums.

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