The Langeveld building of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is one of the most sustainable educational buildings in the world with a BREEAM outstanding certificate. Langeveld Building , designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects and executed by BAM Bouw en Techniek is energy positive and runs on the wind, sun, and earth.
©Aiste Rakauskaite
Langeveld Building’s Design Concept
Powered by nature. Through a smart and integral design strategy, the new educational building is energy-positive. To achieve this, a revolutionary new natural ventilation principle has been applied, which runs on wind and solar energy. The two solar chimneys on the south façade create a vertical shaft in which the warm waist air will heat up even further creating an upward draft. On top of these shafts, a venturi roof, aircraft-winged shape, forces the wind to accelerate and therefore creates pressure sucking even harder on the solar chimneys. ©Aiste Rakauskaite
Through the interplay of these natural forces, a steady influx of fresh air is drawn into an adjacent vertical shaft. Positioned atop this dedicated air inlet shaft, a cooling water cascade propels the air to descend within the shaft, establishing a continuous and invigorating flow of air throughout the Langeveld Building. This ingenious system, driven by natural processes, boasts an impressive 85% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional ventilation systems, all while delivering a significantly higher volume of fresh air...