Description

The research centre accommodates sections of the Institute for Space Science, the Institute of Biophysics and X-ray Structure Research as well as five project teams of the humanities. Major design parameters for the design concept were different space requirements of the individual sections and a rather small site near the Mur River. The brief called for high flexibility and variable institute sizes; internal communication areas were considered to be of equal importance.

Extensive preliminary design work conducted by the architects led to a solution with two freely sited cross-shaped building volumes enclosing a central atrium. Throughout the building, single-loaded corridors provide access to the individual offices that without exception receive sufficient daylight. The offices themselves are largely standardised but favourably contrast with the unusual geometry and layout of the wings resulting in highly individual orientation, views, environment, and lighting. The exterior landscaping enhances these qualities.

The atrium with its surrounding galleries reinforces the importance of internal communication for the building concept. It is the central circulation node containing the main staircase that provides access to the galleries. Spaces for meetings and informal conversations are located at the end of the wings; service cores are to be found where the wings intersect. The basement below the atrium houses primarily shared facilities, for example the library, canteen, and seminar rooms.

The façade consists of transparent and solid components: thermally insulated aluminium-clad concrete panels and glazed elements with fixed or movable aluminium panels which fulfil multiple tasks as windows, walls, or solar protection devices. In the work areas, they mostly serve as solar blinds or blacking-out panels; in the access corridors they are fixed.

For the most part, the structure consists of prefabricated elements – to some extent storey-high sandwich elements that were installed with fully completed finishes on either side. The interior atrium makes use of the thermal stack effect for natural ventilation and allows night-cooling via ventilation louvers during summer.

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Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.