Serge Schoemaker Architects (Amsterdam) and Miriam Haag architecture + consulting (Valencia) have designed an iconic highly sustainable center in the Southeast of the USA. ‘The Leaf‘ will be a 25,000 m2 large conference, exhibition and R&D center covered by one expressive membrane roof structure.
The Leaf, image courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
The placement of the leaf-shaped landmark creates a unique spatial setting, with views across the water and an entrance amongst the trees. The building has three wings which encompass the three main program elements: the conference center, exhibition area and R&D facilities. The central area of the building, surrounding the open air auditorium, is the welcome zone with sales, marketing and catering options. From here all sides of the building can be viewed and accessed.
The Leaf, image courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
The expressive laminated wood support structures at the ends of the three wings keep the membrane roof structure in place and the entire viewing area under the roof free. The extensive large translucent roof membrane will act both as shade device above the viewing decks and energy collector: flexible photovoltaic panels will be laminated to its extensive surface.
The Leaf, image courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
The environmentally sustainable Leaf building works with the site’s natural features. The biggest savings will be made here by simple passive design strategies such as building orientation to maximize winter sunlight penetration and summer shading through eave overhangs. Rainwater runoff from the tensile surface structure will be collected and stored underground.
The Leaf - Level 0, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
The Leaf - Level 1, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
The Leaf - Level 2, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
The Leaf - Roof plan, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects
+ Project credits / data
Project: The Leaf; Conference, Exhibition and R&D Center
Location: Southeast USA
Surface: 25,000 m2
Design: 2010-2011
Due for completion: 2015
Architects: Serge Schoemaker Architects & Miriam Haag architecture + consulting
Project Team: Serge Schoemaker, Miriam Haag, Anthony Dann, Dik Houben, Gerald Lindner, Ricardo Ploemen
+ about Serge Schoemaker
Born in Amsterdam in 1975 Archiprix International winner Serge Schoemaker studied architecture at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.
He worked as project architect on several first prize-winning competition entries at the office of Regula Harder & Jürg Spreyermann in Zurich from 2000 to 2002; and subsequently as project architect of the highly praised Kolumba Art Museum in Cologne, Germany, at the practice of the renowned Swiss architect and Pritzker Prize winner Peter Zumthor from 2002 to 2007.
Since 2007 Serge Schoemaker has run his own architect’s office in Amsterdam and is visiting lecturer at several architecture schools. In 2010 his work was rewarded with a grant from the Netherlands Foundation of Visual Arts, Graphic Design and Architecture.
+ about Miriam Haag
Born in São Paulo in 1974 Miriam Haag studied architecture at the University of Manchester, Great Britain, and at the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland.
She first worked from 2000 to 2005 as a site supervisor on several World Cup stadia in Germany for the international construction company Max Bögl. From 2006 to 2009, she worked as a project architect on the renowned City of the Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, at the architectural and engineering office of Santiago Calatrava.
Since 2009 Miriam Haag has run her own architecture and consulting office in Valencia. In 2010 she graduated from her MBA at the top-ranking IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.