7,570 FSC®100% certified eucalyptus poles from South Africa form the façade of the BIO4 facility in Copenhagen.
The logs will form the façade of the new BIO4 unit at the Amager Power Station. The project comprises a new combined heat and power (CHP) unit, fuelled by biomass, and a masterplan for the future development of the power station site. The new unit is enclosed by a deep façade of suspended tree trunks, which tangibly illustrate that the unit is fuelled by biomass. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Danish firm Tracer. The switch from coal to sustainable biomass is a step towards realising Copenhagen’s ambition to become a carbon-neutral capital.
Eucalyptus from South Africa
The façade of the BIO4 unit is beginning to take shape and the logs are on their way from an FSC®100% certified plantation in South Africa. Eucalyptus has been chosen for its long lifespan and high oil content, which means the logs do not require any surface treatment to withstand the harsh Danish climate. Untreated, the logs can enter the energy cycle and be used as fuel in the BIO4 plant once they have served their purpose.
An interactive beacon for sustainable heat production
When completed, BIO4 will have hanging logs on all four sides of the CHP plant. The side of the facade facing Copenhagen invites visitors to move through the forest of tree trunks via a spectacular staircase, from where the renewable energy production inside will be visible. The staircase leads to a platform on the roof, from where there will be stunning views of the capital.
Gottlieb Paludan Architects designed BIO4 in collaboration with landscape architects Møller & Grønborg and lighting design specialists Speirs + Major. In 2016, the project received the prestigious architecture award from LEAF (Leading European Architecture Forum).
