Description
The cancer research centre is located on a steep slope near the city centre. With its stepped convex glazed roofs it evokes associations with the rapids of the Grand River. The individual sculptural appearance of the building is derived from practical requirements. It is also designed as a research building that supports social interaction between the scientists and provides spatial and functional flexibility of the laboratory areas.
As the exterior of the building suggests, the interior is arranged in three zones. In the eastern part underneath the glazed cascades, office areas are laid out as large open spaces with flexible laboratory furnishings. The translucent roof structure above the stepped levels admits intensive daylight, thus creating a unique atmosphere in which communication and social interaction can thrive and new ideas can be born while conducting experiments.
According to the brief, modular work benches and worktops are standardised and can be easily rearranged with regard to their technical equipment and spatial layout. Horizontal service lines support flexibility since they enable a number of defined spots of the floor plan to connect to the technical infrastructure. Transparency enhances the open plan character of the laboratories.
In contrast to the transparent ”cascades” the western wing adjacent to the ”rapids” provides solid sculptural qualities. It houses the theoretical studies and meeting rooms. The access areas at the gable ends of the building are fully glazed and admit daylight into generous circulation zones that are also designed to encourage social interaction. Like the technical and service rooms located in the central dark zone the studies and meeting rooms cannot be rearranged easily. The auditorium and laboratories that require no or little daylight are located in the core zone which follows the sloped site.
A proposed building west of the existing institute would triple the current floor areas if required. It is envisaged to be a similar but mirrored and bigger version of the existing one and would create an open courtyard between the two buildings.
Drawings
Schematic sketch of building
Ground floor
Cross sections
Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.