In Måløv, a Danish town 20 kilometres from Copenhagen, PLH and Nordland Arkitekter have completed the new headquarters for the global seed company, DLF. The building, which occupies a sloped site on Kildedal Hill, brings together workplaces and laboratory facilities, alongside a gym and lounge areas.
The design, which has pre-certified DGNB Gold, is defined by a carefully considered material palette and green roof, passive strategies, and a flexible floor plan that together render the site future proof.
"The project is conceived as a resilient architectural framework with the capacity to evolve throughout its lifecycle, extending the building’s relevance and usability."
— Lars Toksvig, PLH
Layout
The building is structured across staggered volumes that follow the contours of the landscape. A large glass-covered atrium draws light deep into the building, creating visual connection between the different programs of the headquarters while providing views to the surrounding landscape. The canteen is positioned at the lowest level that the atrium opens on to, a retractable glass screen separates the two areas—allowing them to work as individual sites or together.
Programming
"Despite the building's large volume, ensuring close synergy between the office workspaces and the laboratory section has been a key priority," explains Lars Toksvig, partner, PLH. The solution comes from the openness of the volume, it is a building that facilitates both intentional and serendipitous moments of connection between different parts of the business.
Nature-based strategies
The design focused on natural building materials, and the interior is completed with a range of wood and glazing that open the space to the outdoors. The design also includes a biodiversity strategy for the surrounding landscape. The strategy places particular emphasis on the use of native species as a means of supporting local flora and fauna while contributing to greater resilience and diversity within the landscape.
The building is completed with over 600 square metres of green roofing, transforming what would be an empty space into a sustainable ecosystem. This green roof enhances building insulation, helping maintain a comfortable temperature inside, while encouraging urban biodiversity.
Sustainability
While it may seem a considerable volume, the building's footprint has been reduced to create a compact site that reduces energy demand. The interior layout has been optimised for natural daylighting, while the facade of the building features angled windows that act as thermal regulators, shielding the interior from solar radiation.
Future-proof design
To ensure that the building remains relevant and valuable across time, the building's structural grid and service areas (including staircases, toilets and escape routes) have been designed to support different configurations and use cases. Additionally, the architects prepared plans for both downsizing and expansion, should the requirements of DLF change in the years to come.
"An integral part of the design strategy has been to create a building with a high degree of long-term adaptability, meaning an architecture defined not by rigid form, but by spatial and structural flexibility."
— Lars Toksvig, PLH
