Eawag Forum Chriesbach

This project in Dübendorf, Switzerland, houses Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. The building consists of offices, a library, a restaurant, seminar rooms and a sky-lit atrium for exhibitions and events. Design premises were to realize a truly sustainable building with an innovative, but simple concept. The façade consists of glass lamellaes that track the position of the sun to maximize solar protection in summer and solar gains in winter. The building has a compact form and is insulated very well. A thermal register, natural ventilation via the atrium and the use of waste heat (servers) allow to do without a conventional heating or cooling system. The waste water is collected, purified naturally in the water garden and reused to flush the toilets. Solar panels and vacuum tubes on the roofs contribute 1/3 of the needed energy and warm water supply. The total energy consumption is only 1/4 of a conventional building complying to swiss building law.