2018 Architecture Awards

37 2018 Architecture Awards Build the firm’s values by unifying the terms “cube” - relating to wholeness and persistence - plus “bend,” standing for movement and individuality. Thus, creating a hybrid of an identity-enhancing, activity based, and sustainable environment. The building’s surface visibly reveals the interaction between people and spaces, as well as their needs in contrast to sealed industrial structures of the surrounding neighborhood. Organized as a cube, divided by a curved atrium across all seven floors, the building consists of a glass dominated core within a floating concrete structure. The white concrete outer grid integrates an automatic sun shading system that changes dynamically the building’s external appearance due to people’s usage and exposure to daylight. The facade’s second part, a porch-like area, serves people as a transition space between in and outdoors, particularly as sheltered free space in the summer time. A third, transparent layer allows natural light access to fragmented office space formations around an elongated atrium. This multi-layered system includes different structural and functional elements for its users, as well energy-efficient solutions for the building itself. One of the main challenges of the space planning was meeting the multi- requirements - foyer, customer area with an apartment mock up, meeting rooms, open workspaces, creative spaces, and a social area for the employees or for corporate events and lectures - on only 2465 square meters organized on seven floors. As such, the layout of the space was optimized in a rectangular grid around the atrium connecting all floors as a vertical communication interface. With the exponential growth of the atrium, stretching from ground floor up to rooftop, the functions of the “New Work” concept are organized in a circular flow with communal zones, working and private areas that are positioned around the void. A central building core includes a staircase and elevator as well as all building technologies and distributes those outwards to the office space through a mesh-like suspended ceiling. This new ceiling system, which meets the spacial, aesthetic, and acoustic demands, was developed and customized for the building. With an aim to create an inspiring and healthy workplace by harmonizing the physical, virtual, and social world of work, biophilic aspects were implemented in the interior and exterior concept, which includes plants, rooftop-terrace, balcony’s and the buildings foreyard. The forward-thinking concept of the building sets the stage for an efficient, activity based, and identity- enhancing working environment which balances people, place and technology from inside to outside. Looking ahead, INNOCAD will be drawing on the success of this latest project and seeking to undertake even more unique projects as it looks towards a bright future. ©PaulOtt ©PaulOtt