Japanese traditional construction and contemporary architecture meet in Shigeru’s timber joints, resulting in a high profile, sustainable building.
THE PROJECT:
The project for the headquarters of the Swiss media company Tamedia is situated in the heart of the city of Zurich in a 1,000m² site within a larger urban block where the main buildings of the group are currently located.
The site is positioned towards the east part of the block and has the particularity of developing through almost 50m of linear façade facing the Sihl water canal. The implantation of the new building basically responds to the footprint of the existing building, which will be demolished, while creating continuity with the facades of the existing buildings as well as taking advantage of the maximum allowed height, in order to optimize the exploitable office area in this side of the building block. The main access of the building is placed in the north angle of streets Werdstrasse and Stauffacherquai and will actually become the principal entry of the whole building complex.
The building develops within 7 stories above ground with two basement levels for a global net area of 8,602m² to which we can add the 1,518 additional square meters of the two-floor expansion project, located on the roof of the neighboring building at 8, Stauffacherquai street.
From an architectural standpoint one of the main features of the project is indeed the proposition of a main structural system entirely made designed on timber that, other its innovative character from a technical and environmental standpoint, gives the building a unique appearance from the inside space as well as from the city around. In order to reinforce and express this idea the building skin is entirely glazed and special attention was given to achieve a low energy transmission levels that responds to the latest and very strict Swiss regulations in terms of energy consumption.
Facing the city, the building also features an “intermediate” space throughout the whole height of the east façade, the role of which is being a “thermal screen” or “buffer zone” within the general energy consumption strategy. This concept also becomes a unique spatial experience with lounge areas and vertical links between the different office stories, connecting all parts of the building. These “balconies” can be used as informal meeting and rest areas that will also have the peculiarity of having a façade composed of a glass retractable window system that allows to transform these spaces into open air terraces, reinforcing the privileged relationship between the interior of the building and the surrounding landscape.
INNOVATION:
The timber main structural system is in great extent the most significant innovation of the project. From a technical and environmental point of view this timber structure is a unique response to this type of office building: in addition to that, the structural elements are entirely visible, which also gives a very special character and a high quality of space to the working atmosphere.
SUSTAINABILITY:
Besides the clear contribution to sustainability with the choice of wood as the main structural material (it is the only renewable construction material and is the lowest C02 producer in the construction process), the global mechanical system has been designed to meet the highest standards in energy performance. The space intermediate between the façade and the core functions of the building acts as a“buffer zone and is part of the public spaces that will be heated and cooled with the extraction air from the office area.
ARCHISCAPES 