MPreis Shopping Centre in Wattens

The high design quality of the MPreis supermarkets has gained the concern a reputation that extends far beyond the borders of Tyrol. One of the most successful examples in terms of its architecture and urban planning is the new supermarket in the centre of Wattens, which was opened in 2003. It is the second MPreis store Dominique Perrault has built in this small community. The architects, the client, the structural planners and the project architect describe the development and realization of this scheme from their own points of view – from alternative urban solutions to the detailed design of the metal-mesh skin. The latter, which acts as a sunshading screen, is drawn like a mysterious curtain over the large areas of glazing. To what extent the planners' concepts met the expectations of customers and staff is revealed by a user survey. Topics: Petit Musée ou Centre Commercial – Little Museum or Shopping Centre; M for Marketplace; Slender, Light, Prestressed – Composite Construction with Timber, Steel and Concrete; A Metal Curtain – the Path to Details; “The feeling of openness is a dream...” Customer and staff survey