A Holistic Approach to Health

With UN17 Village, NREP has set the ambitious goal to address the UNs Sustainable Development goals in a 35,000 m² housing project on the tip of Ørestad, in the capital region of Denmark.

A recurring theme is the residents’ health, which is incorporated into the total design of the village, down to the smallest detail. The village will be for all ages and accompany the needs for all from kindergarteners to the elderly.

Certification Debut in Denmark
The ambition is to have the UN17 Village Well-certified, as the first building on Danish soil. Well is an American certification system that focuses, primarily, on the social dimensions of health and well-being. The Well certification will not be the only seal of approval, as the project will also receive the new DGNB Heart that makes health initiatives part of the, already popular, sustainability certifications system. DGNB Heart is an extension of DGNB that Artelia has helped develop in collaboration with Green Building Council Denmark with support from Realdania.

Artelia is responsible for all certifications of UN17 Village and, as consulting engineers on the project, we use our unique expertise to help realise the healthy design. Steffen Maagaard, Corporate Technical Director in Energy Design & Indoor Climate, explains:

As Steffen points out, environmental sustainability is definitely also important features of the project. The load-bearing elements are primarily made from timber and the same holds true for the floor structures made from CLT (Cross Laminated Timber). The choice of materials, and several other factors, lower the CO2 emissions significantly, while another point of focus has been the reuse of rainwater and general water conservation initiatives.

Our Role as Engineers
Our engineering skills are important when implementing health initiatives to this extend.

For this project, there is extra focus on avoiding substances harmful to health in the choice of materials.  Therefore, paint and joint materials will be certified with the Danish Indoor Climate Label . Improved ventilation systems and pollen filters in the decentralised ventilation systems safeguard the residents against outside particles, while the kitchens’ cooker heads are far more efficient.

The ventilation is simultaneously demand controlled through censors that follow the resident’s whereabouts and regulates the air supply according to a prioritised list of indoor climate parameters.

Still, the most efficient solutions for ventilation enhances the need for acoustic solutions for which the bar is set equally high. Noise conditions are also important factors for health and initiatives such as soundproofed waste pipes have been implemented to accommodate these conditions.

Last but not least, the buildings and the outdoor areas are carefully placed based on wind simulations and consideration of sunlight.

Thus, the holistic approach to health that permeates the building design is  obvious.

Keeping Sight of the Whole
The remaining decisive parameters for health include the social and mental dimensions. UN17 Village will have an inspiring and active outdoor environment that can be used all year around with workout facilities, playing fields, play grounds, attractive stairwells and favourable conditions for cyclists. There will be an area for cultivation on the roofs and court yards, which will make it possible to grow vegetables. According to research, the visible use of water, green elements and natural elements will have a positive effect on mental health.