Look Beyond – Press room for the climate conference ”Beyond Kyoto” in Aarhus,
March 5 – 7 2009
Arkitema Architects have designed a spectacular press room based on recyclable materials and simple principles of construction. The press room is to be used at the conference “Beyond Kyoto: Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change” - a climate conference organized by the University of Aarhus and taking place in March of 2009 as a precursor to COP 15 – the UN conference to be held in Copenhagen in December. The Aarhus conference will take the form of a conversation between business, science, NGOs and politicians.
An aesthetical and sustainable framework for the press
The beyond Kyoto conference will present a number of prominent speakers, among others former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland and Nobel Laureate Professor Steven Chu, who has just been appointed secretary for energy in the Barack Obama administration. A large number of journalists are expected to cover the event and the speeches by these and other illustrious people. For all these journalists Arkitema Architects have sponsored the design of a press room that speaks in a language of both adventure and sustainability through its shape and materials. The press room will be placed in the lobby of Concert Hall Aarhus and is made up of a long row of white cardboard tubes made mainly from recycled paper and connected to form a long dynamic shape. The energy supply for the facility is mainly covered by an array of solar panels placed outside the Concert Hall
Renewable cardboard as load bearing construction
Cardboard tubes – primarily made of recycled paper – make up the basic construction of the press centre. The tubes are connected to each other horizontally forming a long wavelike shape, repeating the circular expression of the tube and making it possible to look all the way through the tubes from certain angles.
The wave makes a strong statement pointing to the centre as home of the press- this is something new and interesting in the big white lobby of the concert hall.
The centre is placed close by the glass facades of the lobby so it will be both closed on two sides and visible from the outside for passers by. From the square in front of the Concert Hall they will be able to see the interviews taking place or the journalists working and preparing their stories for the newspapers.
The centre is characterized by a dynamic and open shape contrasting elegantly the angular shapes of the concert hall. In this respect the centre sets itself apart from the lobby while at the same time becoming part of it; The wave of the press room grabs hold of the characteristic pillars of the lobby and thus let the rhythm of the pillars decide the lay out of the centre. The wave shape pointing upwards opens up towards the general public and also points to a function based division of the centre: In the low ceilinged area the journalists can work in relative peace while the more public functions like interviews or panel discussions take place where the wave ascends towards the ceiling.
The main shape flowing through the lobby space symbolizes an opening towards new horizons – both in a literal sense – when the shape opens and the visitor looks through the individual tube – and in a symbolic way: To look beyond Kyoto.
Anna Kathrine Bisgaard, Arkitema Architect’s creative lead no the project states “we have designed a press centre where sustainability and experience are two sides of the same coin – a visual symbol for the conference and a functional framework for the journalists and TV people who will be using the centre”
The project has been put together in a very short time span in a close cooperation between Arkitema Design, Arkitema Communications, NIRAS, Syncron and the client: The Arhus University Climate Secretariat.
Not only the cardboard tubes are made from renewable resources – most of the other materials used are as well: Chairs, screen walls and round tables from recycled paper that Arkitema Design has designed especially for the press centre. The centre has been designed in a modular grid so new modules can easily be added and the whole structure can easily be dismantled and moved to a new location for instance in connection with COP 15 in Copenhagen’s Bella Centre. A press centre from recycled materials that in itself can be used and reused and where the cardboard in the end can be recycled and put to new use – for example to make newsprint – truly a recyclable press room.
Data
· Organizer: Aarhus University Climate Secretariat.
· The conference is to be held march 5-7 2009 in Concert Hall Aarhus, Ridehuset, Town Hall Aarhus ARoS museum of modern art and Scandinavian Congress Centre
· Gro Harlem Brundtland has been appointed UN deputy for climate change for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, She was formerly director for WHO and Prime Minister of Norway.
· Professor Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate, director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recently appointed secretary for energy in the Barack Obama cabinet.
· National Danish TV and Newspaper will be using the press room during the conference.
· The centre will hold 25 journalists.
· Apart from Arkitema Architects, sponsoring the concept development and project management of the building process, DONG Energy sponsors the solar panels, GUBI the chairs made from recycled Cola bottles, NIRAS engineering, Philips the LED lighting and Scanglas the floors.
· Read more on klima.au.dk