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office building
/ mixed use
client: Municipality of Rotterdam
project team: Jörn Schiemann, Johannes Kühn
status: competition (2001) |
New corporate identity for the office building of the city government
of Rotterdam.
The design is based on interweaving work and nature, wherein a new
definition of the term ‘office landscape’ is introduced;
landscape not only as a climate buffer but as a spatial framework.
The post war monument ‘stadstimmerhuis’ takes a leading
part within the design. It was decided to keep the existing building;
it is of great historic and architectonic value and defines the size
and structure of the new extension. The aim is to create an integral
building, capable of taking over the required functions of commercial
and office space as well as the housing programme.
By extending the conventional climate facade to up to 10m wide, a
40m high in-between space is created. This space works as a thermal
buffer and is used for internal circulation. Working in an office
is regarded as a cultural phenomenon with the most diverse appearances,
styles of living are becoming part of the working environment. The
contemporary office is designed to support the creativity of the employees
and to allow diverse working constellations. This leads to a concept
of specific working environments and to a new interpretation of the
term ‘office landscape’.
The volumes of the upper floors, containing the housing programme,
are grouped around a hanging garden. This setup combines the intimacy
of a closed courtyard with the wide view over the city and the comfort
of living in the city centre. |
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