“The unique 300 m2 power engineering laboratory building realized in Hungary at the campus of the University of Debrecen explores and demonstrates the architectural and building power engineering connections of the climate change.
In the building open to the public the most up-to-date power engineering systems are presented in a manner understandable also by nonprofessionals, including technical solutions from the future of architecture installed freely, outside the walls without any covering.
The mobile frontal walls of the steel cube consisting of 15x15 m regular square elements hide a building embedded in a perfect sheath of power engineering built according to the ’house in a house’ principle. The building’s internal spaces - facing the four directions - demonstrate different usage comfort levels adjustable individually for each room by employing a variety of wall, floor, ceiling and air heating.
The mobile steel frontal providing for shading can be moved as desired by the time of day. The mobile frontal elements can provide full daylight or full darkness in internal spaces at any time of the day. The solar power systems installed on the roof and the geothermal probes ensure that the building’s power consumption is nearly ZERO.”
With the recommendation of Hungary Green Buildig Council, the emerging member of World Green Building Council. by Ferencz, Marcel
Some question and answer from dezeen magazine:
Can you explain the significance of the cage section on the top of the building?
The "cage” on the top of the building is an installation surface for further engineering researches like solar and wind energy usage and the effect of green walls and surfaces on the climate of the building behind. The „cage” and the solid building beneath together represent the shape which fits appropriate in the environment.
What exactly takes place inside? You mentioned the building is on the university campus - is it engineering research?
The building is a demonstration center in power engineering. However the layout and the concept affords to make experiments and researches. On the ground floor the central room is a kind of auditorium, and exhibiton area. Three corner rooms are for the demonstrations and research, orientated to the east, to the south and to the west. In the northern corner is the staircase. On the first floor are the demonstartion of the bulit in power engineering systems, the controls and service spaces.
Why do you need to change the lighting conditions inside by moving the doors? Which panels slide back on the exterior - is it just the two at the front? When the panels slide back, what is underneath them?
Exterior panels on the facades slide back ont he ground three corners, and at the entrances. Behind the corner panels there are the windows of the corner spaces. The moving of these panels change the sunlight emission of the corner spaces, so that the effect of this can be measured by different points of the compass. The panels at the enterance are used to dim the central space for lectures.
Also, how is the interior heated?
The interior is heated by air condition and surface heating panels on the walls and ceilings.
