Climate and Building Design

World Meteorological Organisation Headquarters- Design Innovation



The World Meteorological Organisation is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

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.