For their office, the architects selected a warehouse than had originally been used to store fabric. The compound – which consisted of three neighbouring, identical halls – had not been occupied for many years. Their remodelling concept stipulated that the crumbling stucco be removed completely: this revealed the existing brick masonry walls. The roofing of the middle warehouse was also dismantled, and in the process the old trusswork came into view. A large green provides a serene spot for a short break and connects the two converted halls: one of them accommodates the architecture firm, the other, exhibitions. To tie the ensemble together, the architects introduced a porous wall fronting three sides of it. The form of the wall was determined through parametric methods; the folds of silk fabric billowing in the wind served as inspiratin, a reference to the buildings’ previous use. The wall was erected of readily available, hollow concrete blocks. By simply rotating individual blocks it was transformed into a complex structure. This device obscures the modularity of the conventionally laid blocks and creates an animated effect. Through the variation of the angles – which were attained with the aid of simple cardboard templates – the ratio of transparent areas to closed areas produces an enigmatic aura, enables views in or out, modulates the light entering the compound, and provide protection from the sun.
‘Porosity’ as theme appears inside, as well. Two of the design goals were to retain the warehouse character and make it possible to see the roof trusses: to this end, the conference rooms were placed within the space as independent structures. The aesthetic of the simple steel and wood profiles employed harmonises with the existing fabric. The translucent polycarbonate-sheet skin supplies sufficient light.
In the conference rooms, similar to the facades, by rotating the frame elements a complex construct is attained. A playful approach to arranging simple elements: this is the manner in which the architects went about designing their exterior and interior realms.
