Danish unconventional connection between the roof and facade

The newly constructed administrative building near the city of Aarhus in Denmark features an unconventional roofing solution where the entire roof is covered with facade panels Cembrit True. A total of 2000 m2 of facade panels were used. In fact, the same type of facade panels was used both for covering the roof and the facade.



The Kirstinelund 2 building is already the second structure in the OfficeLab complex.
One of the main priorities during its design was to harmonize the appearance of the new building with the already existing neighboring farm. This influenced the design of the building, where traditional proportions of a house with a sloped roof were chosen, but the material solution is unconventional.

"We decided to cover the roof with facade panels because it gives the building a very distinctive expression that I believe we won’t find elsewhere," explains the CEO of OfficeLab, Christoffer Broberg Flintholm, who designed the new building along with his team at OfficeLab and other collaborators.

New installation technique
The panels on the facade are glued, meaning that no screws or rivets were used during installation. Thus, the facade has a uniform and noticeably smooth appearance. The installation of facade panels on the roof was a previously untested challenge for the contractor. A traditional roof structure was created, and an aluminum grid was installed on its surface. The facade panels were mounted onto this grid with the help of rivets.

Essentially, the top roof serves purely aesthetic purposes, as beneath it is a fully functional second roof. The use of hidden gutters further enhances the uniform appearance of the building.
"This is the first such project we are involved in where our facade panels are installed as a roofing material, and the result is truly convincing. This solution is both original and well-executed," says Carsten Ejberg, representative of Cembrit DK.

A new trend in roofing and cladding?
Representatives of Cembrit believe that Kirstinelund 2 will herald similar roofing projects in the future:
"The overall expression of the building, and especially the smooth facade panels that merge seamlessly with the roof, are very special. I am sure we will have the opportunity to see more such realizations in the future" concludes Carsten Ejberg.

Year: 2013
Internal area: 2035 m2
Facade panels: Cembrit True
Mahogany battens on the facade: a total of 3.3 km
Total number of tenants in OfficeLab: 50
Client: Kirstinelund / S
Client advisor: OfficeLab

Cembrit True
The material of Cembrit True facade panels is through-colored. The surface of the panels is treated with a semi-transparent stain that increases their lifespan and helps minimize maintenance of the panels. Through the transparent surface treatment, a distinct natural surface of the through-colored fiber cement can be seen.

Cembrit True are through-colored fiber cement panels with a semi-transparent coating on the surface. The panels retain the classic appearance of fiber cement, thereby providing the facade with an original depth and texture of the highest quality.
The combination of the original texture of fiber cement with a semi-transparent finish gives the panels a characteristic and interesting expression.
The panels are available in 7 carefully selected colors.

Facade panels are primarily intended for cladding ventilated insulated or non-insulated facades and walls both in exterior and interior applications. Their main advantages are their architectural diversity, natural appearance, long lifespan and functionality, quick and easy year-round installation, easy maintenance, and good thermal and acoustic insulation properties, fire resistance, and health safety.

Cembrit True facade panels are very resistant to weather conditions and, therefore, resistant to mold, algae, water stains, and common dirt. Another advantage of the through-colored panels in combination with a compact coating is their ability to minimize visible scratches on the surface of the panels.

Cembrit True panels are suitable for a wide range of applications from large commercial buildings to facades, gables, and eaves of family houses.