When it comes to a building’s visual appearance and how sustainably it is designed, the following applies: Architects are only as good as the clients allow them to be. Nevertheless, in this era of a construction paradigm shift, architectural firms must reassess their scope for action. The Dutch architectural firm MVRDV has developed its own sustainability criteria, which it implements in its projects – and consistently impresses with extraordinary results.
MVRDV’s projects are very diverse in appearance. What defines MVRDV’s architecture?
Lennaart: Our goal is to design every building in a meaningful way and to imbue it with significance. Architecture can have an extraordinary aura. But it can also be defined by a unique combination of functions and atmospheres.
So for MVRDV, sustainability doesn’t just mean using the right materials, but also finding the right architectural solutions through an in-depth examination of the site, its use, and the construction method?
Lennaart: Exactly. By clearly defining and illustrating the significance of the buildings through this process, they acquire a special quality and are, by their very nature, already sustainable. Jasmin: It’s also no longer about building at any cost. Today, people realize that the most sustainable approach is not to build at all, but instead to repurpose and upgrade existing structures so that they once again have a clear purpose. One example is our Expo pavilion in Hanover. But of course, we also do this on a smaller scale. We work extensively with the reuse of materials, but we also research new products.
How does MVRDV stay informed about new materials and developments?
Jasmin: The cross-project research team MVRDV NEXT is constantly working to explore sustainable construction methods and materials. Computer-aided studies are also used to examine how these can be applied in construction. Here’s an example: In Munich, we’re currently working with recycled bricks. Using a custom-written script, we were able to incorporate the bricks — each with its own unique characteristics — into the facade design while meeting high aesthetic standards.
To what extent do certifications play a role in the planning process?
Jasmin: The client usually expresses a desire for – regardless of which – certification. This is for marketing reasons. What’s interesting is that this makes the building predictable. The standards we apply in all our projects are usually even higher than the requirements of the certifications.
What are those standards?
Jasmin: We call this our MVRDV DNA. It consists of four basic äules. The first goal is to save as much energy as &mouml;possible and generate it sustainably. The second &s;äule concerns boundCO2. So, where do the materials come from? What do we use in construction? Do we use them at all, or do we try to avoid them? The third äpillar is the circular economy. This is a particularly important issue and plays a role in every project. The fourth pillar concerns biodiversity and the climate-positive effect that our building is intended to have. One of our distinctive features is therefore our roof landscapes. These aren’t simply extensively landscaped—there’s always something happening there.
At what stage of the project is it determined whether a building is sustainable?
Jasmin: The major levers are set in the design right at the very beginning. And if you set the course correctly there, then all subsequent steps fall into place.
Your project partner for Ilot Queyries in Bordeaux and Ascension Paysagère in Rennes was Agrob Buchtal, the specialist in ceramic facades. Why was this manufacturer chosen?
Lennaart: Agrob Buchtal supported us on these projects as early as a relatively early stage. For example, there were three-dimensional corners that were difficult to resolve. We asked ourselves: How does this work? Can it be done with ceramic? We received technical support right from the design phase, which allowed us to determine whether the design requirements we had set were feasible.
Were all the ceramic tiles prefabricated, or was a lot of the work done on-site?
Lennaart: The good thing about ceramic is that you don’t have to prefabricate it 100 percent. You can cut it and size it to fit, so you don’t have to shy away from planning even complicated geometries. Final details can be adjusted on-site. Generally, during the planning phase, the dimensions of the tiles are of course coordinated, and care is taken to ensure that as much as possible can be produced in standard sizes.
How do ceramic surfaces generally rank in terms of sustainability?
Lennaart: Here we have a case where reusability plays a significant role. This aspect isn’t always fully factored into certification considerations, but it’s an important aspect of the material for us.
Is ceramic used a lot at MVRDV?
Lennaart: Personally, I like to build with it because I really appreciate the material’s robustness. Of course, it’s not the only material we work with. But from our perspective, simply no other product comes close to the longevity of ceramics. If you start digging in the desert in Iraq, you’ll find ceramic materials that are five thousand years old—and they’re still there. And very few other materials can claim that.
Interview: May-Britt Frank-Grosse
