COBE, the danish architecture firm led by dan stubbergaard, has won an international competition for a new science center in the swedish university city of lund. the project forms part of ‘science village scandinavia’, a new urban district that will also host the ESS (european spallation source) and MAX IV — advanced research facilities within neutron and X-ray research. scheduled to open in 2024, the new institution will be constructed from wood and will be fully CO2-neutral.
all images courtesy of COBE
with a total floor space of 3,500 square meters, the science museum will be situated in between ESS and MAX IV. in fact, the building will be heated with excess heat from ESS through a so-called ‘ectogrid’ system, where warm water is passed through local heat pumps and eventually used to heat the building. the two-story structure will contain exhibition halls, a gallery, a reception area, workshops, a museum store, a restaurant, offices, and an auditorium. COBE says that sustainability and climate-friendly solutions have been integral concerns throughout the design process.
the concave roof, which also serves as a rooftop patio and viewing platform, is designed as a large energy park and generates solar energy. the 1,600-square-meter roof is covered entirely in solar cells, which generate enough electricity to provide for the museum. the roof will also feature energy bikes where visitors can generate electricity through pedal power. in the large, round atrium, which is open to the public, the structure is bisected by a green path where plants, flowers, and trees attract insects, boost biodiversity, and help absorb carbon dioxide.
the building will be constructed using prefabricated cross-laminated timber. in addition to being more eco-friendly, the architects point out that wooden constructions are also people-friendly. ‘wood provides a pleasant and de-stressing acoustic environment, and research has shown a reduction in people’s heart rate, adrenalin levels and blood pressure in wooden buildings compared with buildings made of other materials,’ COBE explains. the science center is scheduled to complete in 2024.
project info:
location: lund, sweden
client: science village scandinavia AB
architect: COBE
engineer: WSP
program: museum
floor space: 3,500 sqm / 37,674 sqf
status: the project was decided in a competition among four architectural firms — the science center is scheduled to be completed in 2024
philip stevens I designboom
jul 05, 2019
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