Architectural Cases

Dymak's recently completed headquarters in Odense, Denmark, designed by BIG LEAP, is a visionary 2,800-square-meter circular timber structure that harmoniously blends architectural innovation with natural elements. Ahead of its official opening, the building hosted a unique site-specific performance by the local dance company KOMA Ballet, offering an intriguing glimpse into a workspace crafted for flexibility, tactile experiences, and dynamic interaction. This design not only provides a spatial framework for human movement but also integrates environmental considerations, creating an adaptable ecosystem for the modern workplace.

The headquarters' continuous loop design, conceived by BIG's in-house architecture, landscape, engineering, and product design studio, fosters visual and spatial connectivity between departments across various floors. This circular arrangement intelligently distributes volume, creating diverse spatial conditions that empower employees to customize their workstations according to their evolving needs, promoting a dynamic and responsive work environment. The selection of materials like wood, clay, and cork for the interiors reflects Dymak's product range and enhances the building's tactile quality. Reclaimed bricks extend from the ground floor into the surrounding pathways and a central courtyard, which serves as the building's verdant heart. This open-air amphitheater facilitates informal gatherings, social events, and moments of quiet contemplation throughout the day.

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has meticulously shaped Dymak's headquarters as a climate-responsive workplace. The facade intelligently opens northward to offer expansive views of Funen's picturesque manorial landscape, while the southern elevation incorporates external lamellas for effective passive solar shading. Vertical stretched-metal panels progressively enclose the glass surface, preventing overheating and maintaining optimal indoor temperatures. The building's grid-like envelope, a nod to Denmark's traditional half-timbered architecture, is composed of 44 radial cross-laminated timber frames. Crowning this innovative structure is an undulating roof fitted with 880 photovoltaic panels, strategically angled for year-round solar energy harvesting. This roof also plays a crucial role in mitigating noise within the inner courtyard, further establishing the building as a serene and environmentally conscious workspace.

This architectural endeavor by BIG LEAP aims to achieve both DGNB Gold and Heart certifications, underscoring its commitment to environmental performance and social sustainability. The design envisions a workplace that can fluidly evolve with Dymak's future expansion while upholding principles of material integrity, spatial generosity, and a shared collective experience. This project promises to be a significant benchmark in sustainable and adaptive office design, redefining how architecture interacts with its occupants and the environment.

The project, located in Odense, Denmark, spans 2,800 square meters and exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to commercial architecture. The integration of a performance art piece within its pre-completion phase highlights the building's inherent flexibility and its capacity to inspire and accommodate diverse functions beyond traditional office use. Such a thoughtful design, emphasizing natural materials, energy efficiency, and a harmonious connection with nature, sets a new standard for workplace environments globally.

A remarkable full-scale pavilion, named Arkhive, has been developed by master's students from the Design for Manufacture (DfM) program at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. This innovative project delves into the possibilities of robotic fabrication and reconfigurable construction methods through an adaptable timber truss framework. The structure utilizes an interlocking joinery system, enabling precise assembly and a high degree of flexibility.

Arkhive was conceived as a proof-of-concept for construction systems prioritizing full disassembly, reconfiguration, and material reuse. Designed and built collaboratively by students and faculty, the self-supporting structure features two twisting timber arches anchored to steel plinths. These arches are robustly stabilized by ladder-beam trusses, assembled with robotic precision, which also define the pavilion's overall structural logic.

The ladder-beam system is ingeniously crafted from a custom arrangement of standardized timber rails and cam-lock connections. This design facilitates the assembly, disassembly, and recombination of individual components without material degradation, promoting adaptability for numerous future configurations. The components were meticulously fabricated and assembled using two industrial robotic arms, achieving a level of accuracy unattainable through traditional manual construction and underscoring an automation-driven approach to timber building.

By integrating robotic manufacturing with reversible joinery, Arkhive stands as a pioneering model for modular timber construction, emphasizing material efficiency and long-term reusability. This structure functions as a 'material bank,' where individual components retain their inherent value, allowing them to be repurposed in subsequent architectural projects. This forward-thinking approach not only highlights the ingenuity of the students and staff involved but also points towards a more sustainable and resource-conscious future for the construction industry, where buildings can evolve and adapt to changing needs, reducing waste and maximizing the lifecycle of materials.