Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP
Open the door of a small high-rise building that forms part of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP in Holzkirchen and you will find yourself in the office of the future – versatile, energy-efficient and, above all, perfectly adapted to the behavior of its occupants. Equipped with suitable technology, this office basically runs itself: It requires no light switches or heating controls, and few people actually pass through its doors – but everything that does happen in this office can be monitored online. VERU (a German abbreviation that stands for Modular Test Facility for Energy and Indoor Environments) is a three-storey reinforced concrete test building containing six square test cells. These are used individually or in combination to conduct experiments. Reconstructing a wall or integrating additional components in the façade of a normal house would involve major construction work. But VERU greatly simplifies this task. The building’s envelope consists of individual segments which can easily be replaced and fitted with alternative features, such as different types of wall construction or sun protection systems. “The tests we conduct in VERU focus on the interaction between the façade, internal spaces, and building systems. It might be a question of deciding what combination of technology and façade specifications would minimize energy consumption, while making the office as comfortable as possible for its occupants. Here in Holzkirchen we have a unique opportunity to conduct realistic, full-scale tests under natural weathering conditions,“ says Herbert Sinnesbichler, who heads up the Evaluation and Demonstration working group, highlighting the advantages of his miniature high-rise building.
The office of the future
Research in focus March 2012