Multi-residential Danfoss House serves as both test center and employee housing.
Danfoss has completed construction of the Danfoss House in Sønderborg, Denmark—a multi-residential building that doubles as a live-in testing facility for sustainable building technologies. The project is the world’s only brick-and-concrete residential structure to earn DGNB Platinum certification, the highest level under the German Sustainable Building Council’s (DGNB) standard.
Designed as a demonstration of decarbonized multifamily housing, the building integrates a wide range of Danfoss energy solutions. These include both centralized and decentralized heating systems for comparative testing, floor cooling, diffuse ventilation with cooling, and a smart home setup that ensures temperature stability through active monitoring. Ten 100-meter-deep (328 ft) geothermal boreholes support year-round groundwater-based heating and cooling.
“Danfoss House will be used to demonstrate our products in use and tell the story about how we can decarbonize multifamily houses and housing in general in the world,” said Torben Christensen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Danfoss.
The building also serves as a residence for a dozen Danfoss expatriate employees, who provide real-life feedback on the performance of the integrated systems. “It’s actually pretty cool as an employee to see the Danfoss solutions in action,” added Elodie Segaud, Director, Brand & Design at Danfoss. “It provides a lot of peace of mind for me and my family having this place to stay.”
Developed by the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation, which owns Danfoss, the building was constructed by Daugaard Pedersen. CEO Jan Riis Nielsen commented: “Danfoss House is a unique project that differs from traditional residential buildings through its combination of sustainability, architecture and technical innovation.”
Certification and Recognition
Danfoss House is one of only about 20 residential buildings worldwide to achieve DGNB Platinum certification, and the only one of its kind constructed from bricks and concrete. The DGNB certification assesses six key quality areas, including environmental, economic, and social-cultural factors.
The project also received the DGNB Heart for promoting well-being and indoor climate, and the DGNB Diamond for design and architectural excellence. Locally, it was named the most successful and beautiful new building in Sønderborg Municipality by the City and Environment department.
“It really makes a difference when you're able to show a real case like Danfoss House,” said Lars Tveen, CEO of the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation. “You can touch it, look at it, go into it—and see it’s possible to build a super energy-efficient house.”