Biosis first began working in Greenland upon its basis in 2018. The Danish structure studio, based by Morten Vedelsbøl and Mikkel Thams Olsen, has since designed a number of tasks within the northern territory – from workplace to residential and public schemes. The architects discover themselves constantly challenged by the area’s harsh local weather, which conjures up them to innovate and push the boundaries of structure inside its particular setting. Their strategy, they clarify, is closely infused with sustainable structure rules and the follow’s in-depth understanding of the Greenlandic neighborhood’s particular wants and wishes. Leaning on cultural affinity and a site-specific angle is what makes this structure follow a specialist in constructing within the Arctic context.
Greenland via the eyes of structure studio Biosis
(Picture credit score: Biosis)
W*: What makes Greenland particular for you?
Biosis: Greenland is a rustic of breathtaking, untamed magnificence, however additionally it is a difficult setting the place survival depends upon resilience and ingenuity. This duality is what makes Greenland so particular to us. Right here, structure isn’t nearly creating buildings; it’s about crafting lifelines – buildings that shield and assist the individuals who name one of many world’s harshest climates properties. The interaction between Greenland’s dramatic setting and the wants of its communities makes designing right here each a privilege and a profound duty.
What attracts us most to Greenland is the chance to create structure that not solely endures in these circumstances but in addition respects and enhances the cultural and pure material of the place. Our climate-driven, minimal-impact philosophy focuses on resilient design that works with the pure panorama, avoiding pointless disruption or blasting of rock, guaranteeing concord with the setting.
We really feel a deep connection to Greenland via our tasks. Sharing the identical realm fosters a novel cultural affinity and mutual understanding. For us, working in Greenland is about greater than designing buildings – it’s about contributing to its sustainable progress whereas honouring its extraordinary heritage and the resilience of its individuals.
(Picture credit score: Biosis)
W*: How lengthy have you ever been working within the territory?
B: We’ve been working in Greenland since establishing BIOSIS in 2018. From the very starting, our studio has been guided by the rules of climate-driven structure, the place the pure forces and prevailing circumstances of a spot play a central position in shaping our designs. Greenland’s Arctic local weather has at all times been a key focus for us, and it continues to encourage and problem our strategy.
Over time, our understanding of constructing in Arctic circumstances has deepened considerably. This data has not solely knowledgeable our work in Greenland however has additionally allowed us to increase into thrilling tasks in Canada, together with Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut. Whereas our scope has grown, Greenland stays on the coronary heart of our follow. We’re dedicated to creating considerate, resilient structure that helps the Greenlandic individuals and their setting, and we view our ongoing work there as each a privilege and a duty.
(Picture credit score: Biosis)
W*: What defines structure in Greenland? What are its challenges and alternatives?
B: Since we started working in Greenland in 2018, we’ve noticed that a lot of the Arctic, together with Greenland, has been formed by imported architectural options – designs which can be neither engineered for the area’s excessive climates nor tailor-made to the particular wants of its individuals. These standardized fashions, usually developed for temperate zones, have been utilized with little consideration for the distinctive environmental and cultural circumstances of the North and with little care to the indigenous land and the primeval landscapes. The identical goes for a few of the locations we work in Canada. Sadly, this has resulted in buildings that not solely fail to carry out adequately however, in some instances, pose vital challenges, together with well being dangers.
For us, these challenges signify alternatives. Our design philosophy is rooted in adapting to the defining parameters of the Greenlandic setting: highly effective winds, heavy snow hundreds, complicated water administration, and steep terrain. We craft structure that’s deeply responsive to every web site, guaranteeing performance, resilience, and concord with the panorama.
Our strategy additionally informs our work in Arctic and North Atlantic Canada, the place we apply the insights and options developed in Greenland to satisfy comparable challenges. By studying from and constructing on these experiences, we intention to contribute to structure that’s each climate-appropriate and respectful of the communities it serves.
(Picture credit score: Biosis)
W*: What’s the most up-to-date undertaking you accomplished there?
B: Our most up-to-date undertaking in Greenland is the residential complicated Nuukullak, located on a steep hillside in Nuuk, the capital. The design was formed by the difficult terrain and an in-depth evaluation of native wind patterns and sunlight hours. This strategy allowed us to map the microclimate and craft a constructing that harmonises with its pure environment.
The ensuing horseshoe-shaped construction adapts to the terrain, mixing seamlessly into the panorama whereas creating sheltered areas for residents. To protect the pure setting, we prioritised minimal affect by avoiding heavy excavation, which is each pricey and harmful to the terrain and biotopes.
Every unit features a southeast-facing balcony, optimised to seize daylight from totally different orientations whereas shielding residents from the prevailing chilly northern winds. On the coronary heart of the complicated is an internal courtyard, designed as a flexible, year-round playscape and social gathering space, shielded from harsh parts. Nuukullak displays our core philosophy: creating structure that balances environmental and social wants whereas respecting and enhancing the distinctive character of its panorama.
(Picture credit score: Biosis)
W*: What innovation have you ever been making use of in your tasks there? What could make a distinction?
B: We consider that creating structure on Greenlandic phrases requires a specialised strategy – one which thoughtfully integrates all related components to provide revolutionary, extremely responsive environments. To this finish, we developed our design methodology, Local weather-Pushed Design. This strategy emphasises that structure should reply not solely to the speedy environmental circumstances of a web site but in addition to its broader climatic and cultural context. It incorporates a complete vary of world, native, and social parameters to create buildings which can be resilient, adaptable, and culturally applicable.
Our course of begins with meticulous information assortment, analysing components corresponding to temperature fluctuations, wind patterns, snow accumulation, permafrost, restricted daylight, and precipitation. This ensures that every undertaking is uniquely tailor-made to its particular web site circumstances, giving the design a definite “DNA” that displays its pure and social setting. We intention to minimise affect on the panorama by permitting the native local weather to co-design our buildings, preserving the terrain and dealing in concord with Greenland’s fragile ecosystems.
In these distant areas, logistics can current vital challenges, making cautious planning important. The place possible, we prioritise the usage of native supplies and manpower, decreasing transportation wants and supporting the native economic system. This strategy not solely addresses the logistical hurdles of constructing in Greenland but in addition fosters a way of possession and connection throughout the neighborhood.
In these excessive Arctic circumstances, we deal with supplies and methods that aren’t solely sturdy and energy-efficient but in addition align with the neighborhood’s lifestyle. By embedding these rules into the very basis of our designs, we aspire to create structure that isn’t simply useful but in addition comfy, sustainable, and deeply linked to its setting. Our final purpose is to craft buildings that improve each the standard of life for Greenlandic communities and the resilience of the constructed setting in one of many world’s most difficult climates.
(Picture credit score: Biosis)
W*: What excites you concerning the future there?
B: The opening of the brand new worldwide airport in Nuuk in November 2024, together with upcoming airports in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq, marks a transformative second for Greenland. These new transport hubs will considerably improve connectivity and create alternatives for improvement that may profit Greenlandic communities. Architecturally, this opens the door to tasks that thoughtfully stability improvement with Greenland’s cultural and environmental priorities.
The increasing tourism sector additionally presents thrilling alternatives, but it surely additionally comes with challenges. Elevated tourism have to be approached sustainably to make sure it helps the Greenlandic individuals, their distinctive pure setting, and Greenland’s long-term pursuits.
We’re notably enthusiastic about tasks that seamlessly harmonize with Greenland’s extraordinary landscapes. One instance is our present improvement of 150 residences on the outskirts of Nuuk. Designed to adapt flexibly to the steep, rocky terrain, this undertaking minimizes disruption to the pure setting, permitting the panorama to stay nearly untouched. The idea integrates the structure with the formations of the rocky panorama, making a stability between constructed buildings and the encompassing setting that has by no means been seen in Greenland.
By way of tasks like this, we intention to contribute to a future in Greenland the place architectural innovation meets neighborhood wants whereas preserving the Arctic’s distinctive and fragile magnificence. This is a chance to set a brand new normal for sustainable design in a area present process vital transformation.
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