Teacher’s Union Conference Center – The Jewelry Box
A staircase, an auditorium and an art project combined evolved into an award-winning, zero-emissions building
The Teacher’s House is an extension of the Union of Education existing main office. The structure contains a conference center and functions as the organization’s new entryway. This project challenges the requirements for Passive Housing Standard and its connection to central heating. Instead, an innovative system providing both heat and solar energy was developed, and the project has won numerous awards for its design. This building produces energy as opposed to expending it!
A glass façade with low insulation capacity allows the sun’s warmth to penetrate through the southward-facing facade. The heat is then stored in energy wells until it is needed again for the winter season. It is transported around the entire building via water pipes located inside the various concrete slabs and stairs. During the spring and summer, this same mechanism operates in the opposite sense by cooling the building down. In other words, the staircase works as a cooling device in the summer and a giant radiator in the winter. The glass façade decorated with reflective letters and symbols was designed in partnership with artist Jorunn Sannes. In addition to being an aesthetic element, the design pattern also functions as sun protection.
The Planning and Building Agency of Oslo has referred to The Teacher’s House as a significant example of how modern architecture can be adapted for historic areas such as the Hausman Quarters in the city center of Oslo.
- Function
- Conference Center
- Client
- Union of Education Norway
- Location
- Osterhaus' gate 4A, Oslo
- Areal
- 1900 m2
- Status
- Completed 2009
- Collaborators
-
Jorunn Sannes (fasadeutsmykning)
May Bente Aronsen (akustikkdempende utsmykning)
- Photo
-
ELEMENT
Hans Petter Smeby
Related
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A film of the project that in many ways was the start of the current office of ELEMENT, by Paul Tunge
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In Therapy - Nordic Countries Face to Face
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D36 and the Teacher’s Union Conference Center will be displayed at the Venice Biennale this autumn.
- Type
- Exhibition
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Read more here.
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![Mammon 03]()
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![IK Element Books 0008]()
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Honorable mention from the European Concrete Award for the Teacher’s Union Conference Center 2012
- Type
- Honorable mention
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The Teacher’s Union Conference Center is nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award!
- Type
- Nomination
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Oslo City's Architecture Award 2010 goes to ELEMENT for the Teacher’s Union Conference Center!
- Type
- Award
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The Concrete Award 2010 goes to the Teacher’s Union Conference Center - The Jewelry Box!
- Type
- Award
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The Teacher’s Union Conference Center receives an honorable mention from the Norwegian Building Practices Awards 2010
- Type
- Honorable mention
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The Builder’s Award 2010 went to the Union of Education Norway for the Teacher’s Union Conference Center, decided by an unanimous jury. Fun!
- Type
- Award
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NSW's Anniversary Award for environmentally and energy conscious architecture 2009 goes to the Teacher’s Union Conference Center.
- Type
- Award
