Administration Building in Geneva
- Claudia Fuchs
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has its headquarters on parklike grounds on the coast of Lake Geneva in a building complex dating to the 1920s that has been extended a number of times. This most recent addition, located on the site of a former parking lot, defines the southern edge of the grounds. The architects’ design takes cues from the height and balanced proportions of the existing buildings. Its glazed envelope engages in an animated dialogue with the adjacent punctuated facades and conveys a sense of loftiness and openness. Moreover, depending on the quality and incidence of ambient light, the building is nearly see-through, and when the glazing reflects the surrounding stock of trees it becomes enmeshed with the park. To visually reduce the substantial building massing, the architects arranged it in two parts: a transparent orthogonal block appears to float above a plinth zone that is nestled in the sloping site. The latter holds two underground parking garage levels, as well as the garden level, where cafeteria, kitchen, printing office and foyer are located. A bridge leads from this foyer to the existing building. The next storey, known as the terrace level, is abutted by an expansive wood-covered deck; here the building is narrower than on the other floors and mediates between the plinth and the four office levels above. The latter cantilever as much as eight metres beyond the terrace level, making deep trusses necessary between it and the office levels; these trusses direct the loads to the two rows of central columns and the load-bearing cores. The subtle design of the double-shell facade underscores the lofty impression the building makes; the outer skin employs mirrored glass at the cornice and at its base to conceal the assemblies, which are thicker here than elsewhere. At the same time, the facades merge with the surroundings. A pattern of white dots further blurs the edges of the ceiling decks. The double-shell facade shields the interiors from noise and the elements; the opaque sashes in the inner skin facilitate natural ventilation. The bright, free-plan offices overlook Lake Geneva.
