Fellenoord 15, the recently completed remodel of a former bank headquarters in the Dutch city of Eindhoven, designed by UNStudio and commissioned by Edge, holistically fuses a healthy and flexible work concept with a highly sustainable, tech-enabled building.
In recent years, the negative environmental impact of the construction industry has significantly changed how we view the demolition of existing buildings in favour of new builds. Renovating or redeveloping existing building stock and extending the life span of our buildings is now favoured as a more sustainable solution, while also ensuring the retention of inherent historical or local significance.
In the case of Fellenoord 15, the existing building previously stood as a difficult-to-access bastion within the city and could no longer accommodate a changing and expanding workforce.
However, the building had a robust shell, which meant that the structure could be retained, rather than demolished. UNStudio’s decision aimed to save about 40% of the CO2 footprint compared to a new build. Sustainable techniques were also employed in the demolition of the former facade, setting the foundation for a truly sustainable development.
