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Article from issue 2/2000 »Stairs«

Administration Building in Struer, Denmark

documentation p. 214 - 218
Architect KHR AS Arkitekter | Søndergaard, Jan | Structural Engineer Kirch + Krogboe |

Drafts
Elevational detail of staircase 1:10
Ground floor plan/Upper floor plan 1:750
Section 1:750
Section through staircase 1:50
Sectional detail of staircase 1:2
Staircase: elevation 1:50

The layout of the three interlocking tracts of this development forms a sheltered courtyard and affords visual contact between the wings as well as views to the surrounding landscape. The almost weightless quality of the facades with their broad, clear lines lends the complex an atmosphere of calm. The office tract, raised on piers above the ground, is constructed in the form of a Vierendeel truss and consists of a solid, brick-clad face, and a lightweight steel structure on the glazed side overlooking the courtyard. The internal circulation routes, which also serve as places of communication between members of the staff, are legible from the outside through the transparent facades. The internal climate of a large part of the building is regulated by a hybrid system, consisting of natural ventilation via narrow opening flaps in the glazed facades, with radiators behind them. The architects designed the entire internal finishings and furnishings, including lamps and sanitary fittings. The circulation zones are distinguished by the use of Icelandic basalt, sandblasted glass, in-situ concrete and pale wood flooring. Spatial differentiation is achieved by changes in the materials or by different visual links rather than by conventional divisions such as partitions and doors. All internal staircases are in a steel-and-glass construction. They are simply detailed and use a minimum of different elements. Glass panels extending from the stair flight to the soffit above form a safety barrier.