Innovative use of facade panels characterizes Nordic headquarters

Facade design that activates the potential of the material 

Rockpanel Stones was chosen for the new facade. It is characterized by a textured surface that imitates stone but, in this case, appears in a customized green colour, which adds character to the facade. Simon Vinzent, architect and owner of Arcgency, explains: 

"With the design of the facade, we wanted to explore and challenge the many properties that apply to the Rockpanel facade panel, which clearly demonstrates the panel's design possibilities. The result is a surface that is entirely unique. The combination of the facade panel's marbled pattern, reminiscent of nature, and the unique green colour invites people to take a closer look and explore the details and the material." 

He adds that the office building complements the large natural park area located on the south side of the building. This is due to the contrast between the deep green colours of trees and grass, and the vibrant green hue of the facade. 

Additionally, outside the upgraded headquarters, the facade manufacturer exhibits a selection of different installation possibilities and designs. The outdoor showroom consists of nine large sections of sample walls that demonstrate the effects that can be achieved with various installation techniques. 

Curved facade panels for a 3D effect 

In addition to the unique green colour, the renovated headquarters offers a backside with plenty of depth. The stone wool panels have been curved and mounted on prefabricated cassettes. Simon Vinzent explains: 

"Because the facade panels are super lightweight yet robust, they are highly durable. Therefore, we chose to curve the panels to create a dynamic expression. In addition, vertical columns have been added, as well as a stronger emphasis of the building's height, which previously appeared long and narrow. This contributes to a more vertical rhythm that directs the eye upward and makes the height more dominant." 

According to Simon Vinzent, the facade interacts with the curved panels and columns. As the facade faces due south, it is perceived as vibrant, with sunlight changing the surface's characteristics and shadows throughout the day.

Several advantages of prefabricated cassettes 

The facade manufacturer highlights several benefits of the approach with prefabricated cassettes in connection with the curved panels: 

“The cassettes not only contribute to the desired design expression and effect, but they also increase the installation speed. The fact that the cassettes are prefabricated in the factory allows for more efficient installation on the building itself”, says Mikkel Langetoft-Nielsen, Business Manager at Rockpanel. He concludes: 

“There is no doubt that it is a very special task for us to be able to leave a mark on the office building we ourselves occupy on a daily basis. At the same time, the architect has managed to emphasize the level of design freedom that can be achieved by playing with both colour and form using our facade solution.”