EDEN-CoWork

Our contribution in this concept stage of the project was to assist in designing a transitory space (atrium) with increased daylight without compromising the quality of the indoor climate and the views out. The key focus of the collaboration was to support the Architectural vision that simultaneously ensures enhanced occupants’ and visitors’ experience using fixed, easily maintainable solutions that do not overcomplicate design and performance.

The “natural” feel: setting the requirements

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An essential part of the process is to identify the atrium as a symbiotic space between the indoors and outdoors, a space that allows occupants and visitors to meet, exchange ideas, network and relax. From early-stage discussions with the Clients, the design team faced the challenge of recreating a high-quality indoor environment at the Atrium that feels natural and yet provides steady, pleasant conditions. We needed a space that is well day-lit with minimum overheating and glare risk, a space with maximum views out without installing movable systems and a space that feels calm, natural and of high quality.

The first step to all this was to set solid performance requirements and goals. Identifying the thermal conditions that will lead the occupants to perceive their thermal environment as natural can be tricky. To do so, we need to extend the thermal conditions beyond the mechanically controlled environment of the office spaces that can feel, at times, hermetically sealed (indicated with light blue). Simultaneously, outdoor conditions should be recreated not as an absolute result but as a sensation created for the occupants; it needs to feel natural but still comfortable.​