Aabybro Fjernvarme The district heating plant is located in the flat landscape on the city's outskirts next to the access road from Aalborg. As a testimony to the flat terrain, the building adds a new visual landscape with a distinctive and sculptural design that catches the eye without appearing heavy.
Architecture as a tool in functional design The primary function of a district heating plant is to supply the citizens with heat. It is the citizens who are paying; therefore, it is natural to think of a district heating plant as a 'democrat- ic act' in physical form. Citizens must be able to identify with what they experience visually – not only in relation to keeping warm but also concerning the facility's appearance, location, and interaction with the surroundings. This is where architectural design begins, and architecture must be understood broadly in that context. For example, the architecture relates to: Where can or should the building be placed? In addition to accommodating the heating production and any future plans, the location must also consider everything from effi- cient infrastructure to sensitive neighbors. Apparent condi- tions such as noise, heavy traffic, building scale, shades from building volumes, etc., must be analyzed to ensure the pro- ject considers all affected parties. How can architecture help to create the right operational conditions and flow in the building? The architect considers both current needs and possible future scenarios to ensure the final project gives a high-quality experience and is fu- tureproofed.
with many pieces – extending from the local context to users, machinery, finances, schedules, authorities, etc.
What role should the new district heating plant play visually? The context - the plant's immediate surroundings - plays an essential role in the architectural potential. Some of the typical locations for a heating plant are:
A new or existing business area
A welcoming feature when arriving in the city
A part of the city - on a previously occupied building site
A detached building on an open field.
It is crucial to be aware of the growth potential for the specific area. A heating plant has a scale that obligates - the building can either set the direction and create a domino effect for the area or help highlight an existing environment that the com- munity wants to preserve. As a developer, you are responsible for finding the right balance between building on a big scale, robust, innovative, futureproof, and appealing - and simulta- neously avoiding visual noise. The building must be integrated despite its size.
Consequently, architecture is not just a matter of creating a nice or practical building. Functional architecture is a puzzle
If you want to ensure that the architecture relates and gives back to its surroundings, the tools naturally depend on the con-
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HOTCOOL no.6 2023
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