Architect：Christ & Gantenbein

Location：Grenzach, Germany

Project Year：2011

Category：Offices

Extended facilities The campus-like development with its different, individually de-signed buildings has been extended by the two new B10 and B16 buildings. The stereometric composition of the area is comple-mented by the B10 office building with its purposeful as well as practical design. With its open front elevation facing the centre of the development, the building forms part of a loosely arranged central group, which includes Building 44, the student canteen to the south and Building B59 to the north. As a result of its central position in the open terrain, the building creates spaces which become part of the overall composition. And yet, in spite of its central location, there remain a number of different extension options for future developments to enhance Grenzach. The landscape architecture pre-empts this high density development. Possible future building sites are planted with fast-growing trees to fill the empty spaces. They also provide a visual border to the edges of the development. More dense planting is intended to strengthen the character of the overall area while respecting individual parts of the spatial arrangement.

Roche architecture Thanks to their architectural features, the B10 office building and B16 technical services building are clearly identifiable as part of the Roche style. Their pattern language is that of the Modernist movement, which aims to achieve elegance with frugal means. There are two special features that give the office building its own identity and «face». Firstly – the proportionate arrangement of the façade elements. The parapet bands are constructed of 60 cm thick concrete and increase in height with each higher storey. This progressively reduces the proportion of glazed area and thus also reduces the incoming daylight which would otherwise increase with each floor. But above all, the openings determine the relationship of the interior to the outside. While the ground floor is oriented directly to the outside, the fenestration bands on the second floor open up the vista into the surrounding area and landscape. Secondly – the loggias, which face the centre of the campus.

In this way the building is reduced to its primary structural elements. A generous entrance arrangement is created on the ground floor while the two upper floors provide open areas for work and break time. In this way the special qualities of Grenzach as a location, i.e. its landscape features, are used to maximum benefit. The protected outside areas can be used to relax in during breaks, to have meetings in, to make telephone calls or to provide a space for working on one’s laptop. These functions are further supported by the Café Lounge adjacent to the loggia (GF) and the tea kitchens (FF). The B16 technical services building is situated directly adjacent to the office building. In order to minimise the space required, the storage areas have been allocated to the upper floor and the technical services to the lower floor.

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