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Gullandsgården

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Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
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Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
Gullandsgården
Active House
 

Gullandsgården

Amager, Copenhagen, Denmark

Gullandsgården

Amager, Copenhagen, Denmark

 A part of the existing buildings.
 

 
Gullandsgården

Amager, Copenhagen, Denmark


Facts

The housing area Gullandsgården situated on the streets Gullandsgade and Hørhusvej in Copenhagen consists of 11 blocks of flats with 342 tenancies. Gullandsgården is part of a social housing association under the City of Copenhagen.

Gullandsgården consists of 4-storey blocks of flats. Some of the flats have a balcony and several of the ground floor flats have a small garden. The blocks create a number of lovely courtyards with playgrounds and green areas. The buildings are traditional pre-cast constructions characteristic of the period.

Professor, architect Poul Kjærgaard designed Gullandsgården in 1978 and the project was awarded a prize in 1980.

Visualization showing new attic apartments in two floors
and a new facade look after energy renovation.


The Challenge

The municipality of Copenhagen has a vision to reach CO2 neutrality in 2025 and a concrete target to reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by 20% in 2015 compared with 2005. 
 
75% of the total CO2 emissions in the city derives from energy consumption of buildings. The municipality of Copenhagen is endeavouring to find concrete solutions of how to reduce the energy consumption of the existing buildings drastically so the vision of CO2 neutrality can be met.
 
VELUX want to contribute to setting a new standard for energy renovation and show that sustainable living can also be attained in existing houses. With sustainable living is meant energy efficiency of houses and integration of renewable energy in order to minimize the CO2 impact of the house. Simultaneously, focus will be on the indoor climate in the house through maximum use of daylight and fresh air to the benefit of the tenants.
 
The municipality of Copenhagen, VELUX, The Ecological Council and NCC have, therefore, agreed to take the initiative for the creation of a “Task-force for CO2 neutrailty in the Sundholmsvej neighbourhood”. 
 
The purpose of the task-force is to find the answer of how to work towards CO2 neutrality when energy renovating the buildings in existing parts of town. The answer will be given in form of a concrete strategy and a catalogue of ideas showing how the Sundholmsvej neighbourhood can move towards CO2 neutrality in 2025. 
 
The strategy is going to include heating and insulation of the buildings, supply and consumption of electricity, optimisation of the indoor climate and the tenants’ possibility of reducing their own CO2 contribution through their daily conduct.

Future site plan

 

A Solution

General suggestions

Energy renovation proposal

  1. Façade renovation with external insulation
  2. External insulation of the roof in connection with establishment of new flats in the attic storey
  3. Solar collectors and solar cells
  4. New windows with energy panes
  5. Covering of balconies
  6. New French balconies
  7. Insulation of stairways
  8. Renovation/renewal of ventilation and heating system
  9. New perimeter drain
  10. Green walls
  11. Collection of rainwater in a lake
  12. Sorting of rubbish
  13. Common roof gardens 

 
A general situation report has been made where the primary important elements of the building have been examined with a view to the necessary energy changes, which must be made.
 
When the energy renovation project has been finished, the task will be to document the expected reduction of the energy consumption through monthly registration of heat, electricity and water consumption.
 
It is important for the accomplishment of the energy renovation project that the tenants have a proper understanding of the
situation reports and the energy measures/proposals prepared for the houses. In the end it is their approval that will be decisive for a thorough energy renovation. Therefore, it is essential to get the tenants interested in and set on the future changes of the construction, look and function.
 
In the future the houses will be modern and with all likely energy efficient measures. 



The thermographic photos show the lack of insulation especially around the basement, the windows, the French balconies, the stairways and the balconies.

The basement




The French balconies




The stairway and the balconies

 


 

 

 

Block D. Apartment type D1. 4th floor
 

A Solution

General suggestions 

 
Gullandsgården in the future
In some of the buildings, two-storey flats (the upper one in the attic and connected by internal stairs) will be established. In other buildings, one-storey flats will be established in the attic storey.
 
Lifts will be installed where they are considered necessary.

 
The roof
The old roof construction will be insulated on the outside by 360 mm insulation material. The present concrete tiles will be replaced by new concrete tiles as suggested in one of the façade  proposals. Normally concrete tiles have a life of 30 years and the present tiles are more than 30 years old. Rheinzink roofing has been suggested in an alternative façade proposal.
 
Solar collectors and solar cells will be installed on the roof. The concrete cover for the attic storey will be insulated by 50 mm floor slabs for noise reduction. 

 
Façade components
The front panel of the façade components is approx. 30 mm thick with red brick slips concreted in the front panel, all in all 90 mm. Insulation is 100 mm batts in two layers. The back panel components are 150 mm precast concrete panels. The existing façade components must be insulated by 220 mm on the outside before the new Rockpanel façade panels are set up. The insulating material will be fixed directly on the back panel components. By reinsulation of the houses a considerable saving on heating will be gained.

 
Balconies
It is the plan to cover the balconies to avoid great heat losses. The balconies will remain unheated. New sliding balcony doors with low-energy panes will be fitted in the present façade wall.  

 
French balconies
New glazing with low-energy panes and external sun screening.

 
Basements
New perimeter drain will be established around all the houses and new pumps will be installed. New storm water pipes will be established around the façades and the water led to a rainwater lake.
 
Basement walls will be primed with bituminous coating. Shrinkage cracks and casting joints will be filled with extra bituminous coating and glass fibre fabric will be used for reinforcement. Following this, 75 mm insulating polystyrene drainage plates will be installed along the external basement walls covered with earth. 
 
New windows with low-energy panes will be installed in the basement rooms. 
 
  
Laundry in the basement
The laundry has six small and three large washing machines more than 10 years old. At replacement and renovation it will be investigated whether the required machines are available for hot water connection (cf. the energy report). Rainwater will be used for machine washing. 
 
 
Windows / Entrances / Stairways
All windows in the façade will be replaced with new windows with low-energy panes. New entrance doors will be fitted in the stairways in connection with the new insulated external wall, which will flush with the existing façade.

 
Ventilation
A new ventilation system will be installed as the requirement for airing will bencreased when the house gets tighter. The installations will be placed in the dwarf wall in the attic storey. Other systems will be placed in the gable walls of the attic storey. In the living space in the attic storey with double-high rooms and VELUX roof windows, natural ventilation will be established. 
  
 
Heating system
The present district heating system will be renovated and completed with solar panels for DHW. The water storage tanks of the solar panels will be placed in the gables of the attic storey for connection to the existing system.
An access hatch for workers and a ladder will be placed in the stairways for access to the attic space in the gables. 
 
 
Bathrooms
Electricity by PV, placed on balcony front edges or roof, if possible, will be used for underfloor heating in the prefabricated bathroom units. 

 

In some of the buildings , two-storey flats (the upper one in the attic and connected by internal stairs) will be established. In other buildings, one-storey flats will be established in the attic storey. 

Block D. Apartment type D1. 4th floor
 

A Solution

General suggestions 

 
Gullandsgården in the future
In some of the buildings, two-storey flats (the upper one in the attic and connected by internal stairs) will be established. In other buildings, one-storey flats will be established in the attic storey.
 
Lifts will be installed where they are considered necessary.

 
The roof
The old roof construction will be insulated on the outside by 360 mm insulation material. The present concrete tiles will be replaced by new concrete tiles as suggested in one of the façade  proposals. Normally concrete tiles have a life of 30 years and the present tiles are more than 30 years old. Rheinzink roofing has been suggested in an alternative façade proposal.
 
Solar collectors and solar cells will be installed on the roof. The concrete cover for the attic storey will be insulated by 50 mm floor slabs for noise reduction. 

 
Façade components
The front panel of the façade components is approx. 30 mm thick with red brick slips concreted in the front panel, all in all 90 mm. Insulation is 100 mm batts in two layers. The back panel components are 150 mm precast concrete panels. The existing façade components must be insulated by 220 mm on the outside before the new Rockpanel façade panels are set up. The insulating material will be fixed directly on the back panel components. By reinsulation of the houses a considerable saving on heating will be gained.

 
Balconies
It is the plan to cover the balconies to avoid great heat losses. The balconies will remain unheated. New sliding balcony doors with low-energy panes will be fitted in the present façade wall.  

 
French balconies
New glazing with low-energy panes and external sun screening.

 
Basements
New perimeter drain will be established around all the houses and new pumps will be installed. New storm water pipes will be established around the façades and the water led to a rainwater lake.
 
Basement walls will be primed with bituminous coating. Shrinkage cracks and casting joints will be filled with extra bituminous coating and glass fibre fabric will be used for reinforcement. Following this, 75 mm insulating polystyrene drainage plates will be installed along the external basement walls covered with earth. 
 
New windows with low-energy panes will be installed in the basement rooms. 
 
  
Laundry in the basement
The laundry has six small and three large washing machines more than 10 years old. At replacement and renovation it will be investigated whether the required machines are available for hot water connection (cf. the energy report). Rainwater will be used for machine washing. 
 
 
Windows / Entrances / Stairways
All windows in the façade will be replaced with new windows with low-energy panes. New entrance doors will be fitted in the stairways in connection with the new insulated external wall, which will flush with the existing façade.

 
Ventilation
A new ventilation system will be installed as the requirement for airing will bencreased when the house gets tighter. The installations will be placed in the dwarf wall in the attic storey. Other systems will be placed in the gable walls of the attic storey. In the living space in the attic storey with double-high rooms and VELUX roof windows, natural ventilation will be established. 
  
 
Heating system
The present district heating system will be renovated and completed with solar panels for DHW. The water storage tanks of the solar panels will be placed in the gables of the attic storey for connection to the existing system.
An access hatch for workers and a ladder will be placed in the stairways for access to the attic space in the gables. 
 
 
Bathrooms
Electricity by PV, placed on balcony front edges or roof, if possible, will be used for underfloor heating in the prefabricated bathroom units. 

 

In some of the buildings , two-storey flats (the upper one in the attic and connected by internal stairs) will be established. In other buildings, one-storey flats will be established in the attic storey. 

A Solution

General suggestions

 
Examples of placing of lift:

The housing association wants to utilize the uninhabited attic storey for new flats of different sizes to get a larger selection of flats so they can accommodate both families with young children, elderly and young people as well as disabled people. They are, therefore, contemplating to make two-storey flats with internal stairs to the attic storey in a few of the blocks. In other blocks they are contemplating prolonging the front stairs to the attic storey for new small flats for young, elderly or disabled residents. To ensure accessibility of the elderly and the disabled, a lift will be installed for the new attic storey.
 
It has been chosen to place the lift at the corner connection at the gables between two blocks of flats. This placing enables one construction to carry both lift and a common roof terrace. The construction must be light and airy. Simultaneously, it must function as a green wall. Green walls absorb rainwater and reduce the amount of water. Façade planting improves the local climate and air quality and has marked architectonic effect.

It has been opted out placing lifts at the front stairs as you have to walk up half a flight of stairs to get to the flats which means that there is no level access. The Danish building regulations demand that there must be level access to lifts. This means that the users of a lift must not be forced to enter stairs to use the lift. The power for the lifts is planned to come from solar cells on the roof. 

A Solution

General suggestions

 
Examples of placing of lift:

The housing association wants to utilize the uninhabited attic storey for new flats of different sizes to get a larger selection of flats so they can accommodate both families with young children, elderly and young people as well as disabled people. They are, therefore, contemplating to make two-storey flats with internal stairs to the attic storey in a few of the blocks. In other blocks they are contemplating prolonging the front stairs to the attic storey for new small flats for young, elderly or disabled residents. To ensure accessibility of the elderly and the disabled, a lift will be installed for the new attic storey.
 
It has been chosen to place the lift at the corner connection at the gables between two blocks of flats. This placing enables one construction to carry both lift and a common roof terrace. The construction must be light and airy. Simultaneously, it must function as a green wall. Green walls absorb rainwater and reduce the amount of water. Façade planting improves the local climate and air quality and has marked architectonic effect.

It has been opted out placing lifts at the front stairs as you have to walk up half a flight of stairs to get to the flats which means that there is no level access. The Danish building regulations demand that there must be level access to lifts. This means that the users of a lift must not be forced to enter stairs to use the lift. The power for the lifts is planned to come from solar cells on the roof. 

Visualization: Façade proposal with the rainwater lake in front.

A Solution

General suggestions

 
Examples of placing of lift:

The housing association wants to utilize the uninhabited attic storey for new flats of different sizes to get a larger selection of flats so they can accommodate both families with young children, elderly and young people as well as disabled people. They are, therefore, contemplating to make two-storey flats with internal stairs to the attic storey in a few of the blocks. In other blocks they are contemplating prolonging the front stairs to the attic storey for new small flats for young, elderly or disabled residents. To ensure accessibility of the elderly and the disabled, a lift will be installed for the new attic storey.
 
It has been chosen to place the lift at the corner connection at the gables between two blocks of flats. This placing enables one construction to carry both lift and a common roof terrace. The construction must be light and airy. Simultaneously, it must function as a green wall. Green walls absorb rainwater and reduce the amount of water. Façade planting improves the local climate and air quality and has marked architectonic effect.

It has been opted out placing lifts at the front stairs as you have to walk up half a flight of stairs to get to the flats which means that there is no level access. The Danish building regulations demand that there must be level access to lifts. This means that the users of a lift must not be forced to enter stairs to use the lift. The power for the lifts is planned to come from solar cells on the roof. 

Visualization: Common roof terrace.

Active House

An initiative supported by VELUX
 
An »Active House« meets the future demands for sustainable buildings and has been developed with focus on health and comfort for the people living in it.
 
It has been designed to interact with local conditions and will to a wide extent use natural resources to make the house CO2 neutral.
 
Energy challenge
is that buildings consume approximately 40% of all produced energy (European figures). Considering the total energy consumption throughout the whole life cycle of the building is an important tool in the concern for climate changes, security of supply and for reducing global energy consumption.
 
Indoor climate challenge

is that we spend 90% of our time indoors, but less than 30% of the building mass contributes to or provides a healthy indoor climate. We humans need fresh air and daylight when we are indoors. It has a positive effect on our health and well-being as well as our ability to learn. 
 
Environment challenge
is that although the challenges we face are global, the local environment differs greatly, and many present solutions are only viable within fixed parameters. We need an open-minded approach to flexible solutions that take into account local cultural and infrastructural differences.