Climate
and Building Design
World
Meteorological Organisation Headquarters- Design Innovation
The World Meteorological Organisation is based
in Geneva, Switzerland.
Design
Objectives
The new headquarters
building was designed to model the organisations priorities of environmental
protection,
efficient energy management and to provide an ergonomic cost-efficient
working environment.
A
challenging site.
Located between the Secheron industrial zone, botanical gardens and
Lake Leman, the building has a picturesque views to the mountainous
Geneva environs. The narrow site however, required an east-west alignment
leaving the building's facades exposed to the full glare of sun from
the south and the cold mountain winds to the north.
 Design
Innovations
Materials
While, like most modern office buildings,
it is constructed from glass, steel, aluminium and concrete,
the exterior of the WMO headquarters features a "double skin"
of glass. The glass in the external wall is specially coated to limit
UV absorption and the southern facade also provides 40% shade. The construction
design limits the suns heating penetration to only 17% through this
sunny southern side. Windows on this side can be opened, while the north
side is sealed insulating the building from the cold mountain winds.
The cost of the
double facade was offset by efficient construction design, including
running ducting through the support structures which made the need for
false ceilings and floors redundant.
 Heating/cooling/ventilation
Heating, cooling and ventilating are major operating costs for most
modern office buildings.
The WMO building's
energy efficient air circulation system uses ”Canadian Wells“.
These store cold fresh air under the building at night, and as it warms
it rises throughout the building during the day maintaining 20-26 degree
temperature.
 Lighting
Lighting can also be a substantial cost and energy demand in modern
offices.
The WMO building
is designed to maximise the use of natural lighting. This is achieved
with innovative manipulation of natural light and office walls are made
of glass to allow light penetration.
The lighting system is linked to motion sensors and the light bulbs
are energy efficient bulbs.
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