ABSTRACT
Henning Larsen’s focus on sustainability has broadened over the years, and they now evaluate how a building, as the sum of its materials, design and fundamental volumes, can create a comfortable indoor environment at the lowest cost. The proactive search for outside knowledge is a defining element of Henning Larsen’s approach to energy optimisation, and a vital component for creating long-lasting, sustainable architecture. Aesthetics is quantified through energy reduction, and energy reduction is qualified through aesthetics. The methodology used by Henning Larsen is that of integrated energy design, which considers energy consumption as a priority from the earliest design stages. The pyramid structure illustrates how the different agents are divided into reducing, optimising and producing measures. The most significant energy reductions emerge through passive strategies, such as optimising building orientation, geometry and natural airflow. The top of the pyramid represents the integration of renewable energy systems into the building.
