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Article from issue 5/2007 »Concrete, Masonry and Stone«

College in Zurich

documentation p. 514 - 518
Architect giuliani.hönger architekten | Structural Engineer Lüchinger & Meyer Bauingenieure AG |

Drafts
1:20 Horizontal section
1:20 Vertical sections
1:3000 Site plan
1:750 Floor plans
1:750 Sections

The homogeneous facade – concrete blocks wrapping evenly around the cornice and the corners – of this municipal building in Zurich provides few clues as to its contents. The cube-like massing – home to two colleges – was hollowed out to create an atrium; the foyer and the auditorium, which are used by both facilities, directly adjoin this space. Stairways are hidden in two load-bearing cores; all classrooms are oriented to the city. Solid floor slabs – which are shifted from one floor to the next – influence the acoustics favourably. With its exposed-concrete walls and stone floors, the interior courtyard has an urban flair. In contrast, the classrooms’ glass-fibre veneered walls bring to mind a residential setting.