The global manufacturer of building materials Saint-Gobain recently built the world’s first low energy playhouse in the centre of Copenhagen during the UN climate change conference. The house is beautifully and boldly designed by the famous architects at Arkitektfirmaet C.F. Møller.

Saint-Gobain is present in Copenhagen during the UN climate change conference – in a very special way. The world’s first low energy playhouse which is large enough to serve as an annexe in private gardens or yards was proudly built by Saint Gobain. This is happened in the very centre of Copenhagen, at the Højbro Plads square, just opposite the Danish parliament December 7-18, 2009. And it is as great a photo opportunity.
 
The new, unique concept, “Playhouse” has been developed by six Danish Saint-Gobain companies and the renowned architects at Arkitektfirmaet C.F. Møller. The house, which was approximately 3 x 4 meters, has 40 cm thick walls stuffed with highly effective Isover insulation and three large 3-layer windows panes from Scanglas – one of them in the roof. Inside, the house has been lined with impact resistant plasterboards from Gyproc and acoustic boards from Gyproc and Ecophon that secure a comfortable sound environment. The play house is full of happy kids!
 
The house has been so perfectly insulated that in principle one could heat with a handful of candle sticks. Simultaneously, the insulation and the windows prevent the house from being over heated during summer. The panes have different coatings depending on their direction – north, south and upwards. The diamond-shape of the house has a beautiful architectural effect, but it also prevents the hot summer sun to heat the house through the south window.
 
This is a playhouse, but big enough to function as a small guesthouse. On some days the house functions as a studio for the nationwide radio channel NOVA fm broadcasting live climate quiz and interviewing politicians and experts about the conference and CO2-reductions.

The house was a part of Saint-Gobain’s new, global “Habitat strategy” which among other things proclaims that the company is going to be a world leader in supplying materials to sustainable buildings. At the same time it is ushering a new and more close corporation among Danish Saint-Gobain companies.
 
The six Danish companies involved in the Playhouse project are: Isover (insulation), Scanglas (window panes), Saint-Gobain Glass (pane coatings), Gyproc (plasterboards), Ecophon (acoustic wall absorbents) and Vetrotech (fire protected glass).