Earlier this fall, the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona presented its awards to a number of international architecture projects that represented excellence according to this year’s theme “Less Does More” (previously on Bustler). One project that has been awarded with a high commendation in Barcelona is “Kuggen”, the low-energy office building project for Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden by Swedish firm Wingårdhs.
This is the second international acknowledgement for Kuggen. The sustainable qualities of this futuristic project have previously been awarded at Mipim. Kuggen is a low energy office project especially adapted to the local conditions. The triangular windows that bring maximum daylight to the core with a minimal waste energy are just one feature in the progressive design of Kuggen.
Here is a description from the architects:
Green architecture can be red. The skin is made of six different shades of red and a one green. It is executed in glazed terracotta, a permanent skin (think Babylon bricks).
”Kuggen” is circular to minimize the ratio between skin and area. Every floor level adds two bays making the building grow in size for every added floor.