Architecture inspired by Nature
The ”Office Pavillon” in Klagenfurt serves as an example of a building’s integration into its natural environment by careful planning. In 2002, henke und schreieck Architekten built an office building for Bene and Zumtobel, which has since received the Bauherrenpreis award.For almost three years, a translucent glass pavilion hovering amidst trees has served as the new southern Austrian base for office furnisher Bene and Zumtobel Staff, the renowned light designing company: Since then, the historical Schleppe property, a valuable green piece of land at the outskirts of Klagenfurt, has boasted an unmatched architectural highlight: Here, by combining forces, the two successful Austrian companies present innovative solutions to office space and light engineering.
In this building, the two proprietors of the nature-conserving Office Pavillon have proved their way of careful management of valuable communal property: While the surrounding vegetation forms an integral part of the overall spatial concept, the building reflects the natural environment existing on this site.
Exterior space: interlocked with green surroundings
The basic principle underlying the concept of henke und schreieck Architekten was to build on Mother Nature in a careful, sensitive manner. To avoid harm to roots of old trees, the floating structure of the Office Pavillon was placed on just a few foundations. Protruding or indented parts of the building structure weave the one-storey building into the surrounding space. Like green showcases, "punched" atriums surround the young trees, which almost grow within the Office Pavillon itself and are meant to shade the building in later years. "The swaying leaves and the changing colours of the seasons form an inspiring backdrop against the displayed objects", say the architects Dieter Henke and Marta Schreieck, "and they mark an intriguing contrast to the organised business world."
Interior space: flexible uses
An informal, nature-inspired layout gives rise to spaces of different size and proportions; floor-to-ceiling glazing seamlessly integrates these open areas into the exterior space. An intricate combination of suspended ceilings and structured wall systems organises the Office Pavillon without disrupting its transparent look – allowing optimal realisation of all requirements of a modern office environment. In a constant interplay with the natural surroundings, unobtrusive/understated materials such as glass and galvanised trapezoidal sheet metal add further emphasis to the different office space and light design solutions.
The building is accessed from a bridge leading first to a common space shared by the two businesses. The offices and showrooms are grouped around a central core that contains sanitary and technical infrastructure facilities. The meeting room can be accessed from the two business units directly; sliding partitions adapt it for different sizes of events. A narrow service wing is accessible from the lateral loading platform/ramp and can easily be converted into an autonomous office unit with an entrance of its own. The façade of the building contains niches which form protected terraces for a pleasant stay outdoors.
The interior design features the CompactOffice concept, which guarantees an optimal environment with zones of interaction, personal office space and areas for recreation and relaxation for employees to feel at ease at work.
Désirée Schellerer
