BIG arranges circular Dymak HQ around stepped courtyard
Architecture studio BIG has completed the headquarters for Danish material supplier Dymak in Odense, Denmark, sheltering its rounded mass-timber structure with a roof evoking a Möbius strip.
Perched on a verdant site overlooking the city's Glisholm Lake, the 2,800-square-metre circular building combines offices and showrooms around an open-air courtyard.
BIG's design aimed to be low carbon, utilising a mass-timber structure and "solar roof" that is clad with 880 custom-shaped photovoltaic panels.
"The Dymak headquarters is conceived as a tour de force in low-carbon materiality: mass timber construction, clay tiles, clay mortar, and eelgrass lower the embodied carbon of the building while providing a warm and organic atmosphere," studio founder Bjarke Ingels said.
"The solar roof is angled to optimise power production, minimise solar heat gain, and maximise views of the neighbouring wetlands," Ingels continued.
"The resultant sculptural form is reminiscent of a Möbius strip in geometry as well as a tribute: not only does it look unique, it also performs uniquely."
Externally, the headquarters is composed of a grid-like, timber-and-glass facade clad with vertical fins and shading elements.
Its undulating roof is raised towards the north to offer panoramic views of the nearby forest and lake, and slopes towards the south to provide shading.
The surrounding outdoor space has been designed by BIG's internal landscape team with planted areas and brick-paved walkways that guide visitors into the building.
The headquarters opens to a double-height space wrapped in glazing, before leading into the central courtyard conceived by the studio as a "green amphitheatre".
This circular courtyard is complete with planted terraces and stepped seating that address the building's sloped form.
At ground level, the volume houses a showroom and photo studio, alongside fitness facilities, while the upper floor contains open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms and lounge areas.
Throughout the building is a material palette of raw and natural materials, including wood, clay, cork, eelgrass and recycled paper fibres used for the ceilings.
Brick-tiled flooring is used throughout to reinforce "the connection between the inside and outside", while a mezzanine level connects the two floors.
According to the studio, the combination of materials was informed by Dymak's material portfolio.
"Conceived as both workplace and material showcase, the building acts as a living catalogue for Dymak's portfolio of tactile and natural materials, while also supporting a more social and flexible everyday use through shared spaces, a green courtyard, and a gym," BIG said.
Other office headquarters recently featured on Dezeen include a trio of "cloud buildings" designed by MAD for technology company Tencent in Shenzhen, China.
Meanwhile, BIG also recently designed a series of buildings for a "new kind of urban university" in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The photography is by Rasmus Hjortshoj.
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