AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.06.2003, Page 64

to sit well on the site and connect
to the adjoining buildings.
The building has three storeys, in
addition to a basement. Its total
size is 3,860 m2, including a
1000 m2 car park in the base-
ment. On the main floor are entry,
reception and open and closed
office areas. The second and
third floors house open and
closed offices. All floors include
nuclei with closed meeting areas,
toilets and coffee areas. On the
basement level is a multi-purpose
hall for 100 people, restaurant for
employees and storage.
„Transparency" is a key design
theme, as the whole building can
be experienced from almost all of
its parts. To underscore this, the
floor in the „crevice" and almost
all stairs in the building are made
of glass.
Simplicity, sophistication and
ecology is emphasised in the use
of materials and building details.
The long walls of the building are
of double in-situ concrete with
material. Part of the building is
clad in corten-steel, which gives a
warm reddish brown colour
against the concrete surfaces.
The floors in the „crevice" on the
first floor and in the basement
are of polished concrete to
emphasise its role. Other floors
are of solid maple, giving softness
to the spaces.
The building features a specially
designed system emphasising
natural ventilation, so that artificial
circulation is kept to a minimum.
Lights, windows and radiator sys-
tems are electronically controlled
with movement sensors. The lat-
est technology is implemented in
all mechanical systems through-
out the building in an economical
way.
Jan Sondergárd, architect and
professor at the Architectural
Academy in Copenhagen, and
Henrik Richter architect were the
main designers in Denmark; Egill
Guðmundsson, Birgir Teitsson
and Elín G. Gunnlaugsdóttir,
architects, were the main design-
was put on new and different
work environments for ístak
employees. The majority of daily
activities take place in open office
areas, while locations offering
more privacy are also available.
The interplay between construc-
tion and existing environment is
highlighted, enabling the building
insulation in between them. In this
way, an exposed concrete finish
is achieved both on the interior
and exterior. The end walls are
largely made of glass and steel.
The floors are of in-situ concrete
with heating services cast inside.
Roofs are of steel and roof units
are clad with bituminous roofing
ers in lceland. The design depart-
ment of ístak was in charge of
the structural design of the build-
ing; Raftákn, the electrical servic-
es; VSB, engineering, other serv-
ices; and VSI, engineers, fire-
technology services. ■
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