Office building, CH-Zurich
The client is leasing office space in a prime location that extends across several ring-shaped floors surrounding an inner courtyard. An office design concept is needed to arrange these spaces in a logical manner and to develop spatial solutions for the various ancillary facilities, such as an auditorium, a shop, recreational areas, and a staff restaurant.
The concept takes the ring-shaped floor plan of the original structure as its starting point. On each floor, three rings form the different functional areas: office spaces along the exterior facades, meeting rooms and circulation cores in the central zone, and lounge areas and circulation routes around the inner courtyard. Based on the different spatial requirements, each area is distinguished from the others by its unique atmosphere. Areas designed for concentration — such as the offices — are kept bright, often in white with green elements and plants.
Lobbies and event spaces feature red or blue hues, the impact of which is intensified by the black floors and ceilings. The latter also draw on the atmosphere of theaters: curtains, decorative wall coverings, and seating alcoves evoke images and emotions. Many of these elements are thematically “charged” and can be deciphered upon closer inspection. For example, the wall coverings in the alcoves resemble veined stone cladding at first glance, but upon closer inspection turn out to be aerial photographs of the Swiss mountains.
