Velux: Light and dark contrast bring science to life

• Renovation and expansion of world-renowned science experience center in Denmark

Hamburg, January 2022

As part of the renovation, the #Experimentarium in #Denmark was extensively expanded to make room for 16 new and interactive exhibitions. Two huge atriums were also created in the process. The architects of Sebra furnished their roof areas with Velux modular skylights to supply natural daylight to the common areas as well as ensure a pleasant indoor environment for the visitors of the Science Center through fresh air To be.

Science and technology to touch and experience: This is what the Science Museum Experiment Room in Hellerup, north of Copenhagen, offers. A place where young and old come together to arouse interest in science and technology and raise awareness of scientific research. From the end of the last century the existing building used to belong to a brewery of a famous Danish beer brand. The old bottling hall has been used as a museum since the early 1990s. During an extensive refurbishment, the Experimentarium was expanded along the way and the exhibition area was doubled. Starting with a large foyer, a congress hall, lecture halls, a cafe, a roof terrace, staff rooms and new exhibition areas were created.

Natural daylight provides an extraordinary experience

During the renovation, two large atriums were integrated into the building, creating a strong visual contrast between the now bright communal areas and staircases as well as the dark exhibition rooms. For daylight and pleasant temperature regulation through a supply of fresh air, Cebra Architects decided to install twelve atrium light strips from a total of 159 Velux modular skylights in the roofs of the two atriums. Architect Lars Geminthe Gilling of Sebra Architects focuses on their advantages: “Daylight in the atria not only improves guidance through the exhibition rooms, but it also creates a higher quality work area for the staff.” This scheme has proven itself in practice. Experimenter CEO Kim Gladstone Herlew confirms: » The quality of daylight in the atrium rooms is excellent. Both our visitors and employees benefit from this. Even inward-facing offices get plenty of bright, natural daylight.

The modules are connected to each other by drainage channels and supported by beams on site. These carriers also serve as a substructure for the assembly of the daylight module. 24 Velux Modular Skylights are openable ventilation modules and an integral part of the building’s ventilation system. During the installation work, the architects realized that more ventilation modules were needed. It shows the strength of the prefabricated modular system from Velux with standard sizes and identical assemblies. Fixed modules that were already installed were easily swapped out for ventilation modules that could be opened later. They also ensure smoke removal as required by law and open quickly in case of fire to allow smoke to escape from the roof.

A special #highlight is the newly constructed entrance area of ​​the building complex, which has an eye-catching copper-clad spiral staircase in the centre. It winds its way up to four floors, reminiscent of a neatly separated apple peel. Another advantage of Velux Modular Skylights came into play when installing the #ladder with a total weight of 160 tons. The impressive copper staircase was one of the last building elements to be lowered through the atrium roof. The roof should be closed as soon as possible. This was easily possible thanks to the short assembly time of the prefabricated Velux Modular Skylights. If today the sun’s light falls through the strips of light, the spectacular installation in the middle of the atrium looks even more impressive due to the light reflected off the copper. The effect is further enhanced by the walls lined with perforated aluminum panels.

Laboratory renovation shows that with renovations and expansions, attractive rooms can also be created. This requires a generous incidence of daylight through the roofs of the atria.

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