1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co.

KG 2006 ´ 2 ¶

Mini-house in Kobe

Architect:
Hiroaki Ohtani, Kobe
Structural engineer:
Hirokazu Touki, Kobe

This tiny (just 33 m2) plot offered a chance Floor plans 1 Entrance 5 Bathroom 7 Roof terrace
Sections 2 Storage 6 Work room 8 Kitchen
for a young couple to build a house in ex- scale 1:200 3 Bedroom (later childrenÕs 9 Dining
pensive downtown Kobe. But it meant a rad- 4 Front garden room) area
ical change of lifestyle. Storage space and
separate, closed-off rooms had to be sacri-
ficed. Behind the largely glazed front, some
privacy is gained through offsetting the lev-
els inside. Slats built into the facade and a
large tree outside also screen the interior.
The space is maximised by using few mate-
rials and concealing details. The double-
flight staircase, at first sight seemingly over-
sized, actually fulfils the same purpose, link-
ing all levels into a single space continuum,
and enabling diverse visual connections be-
tween the various areas. The wooden steps,
also used as seats, take up the theme of the
dominant concrete slats.
Throughout the house over 1800 of these
precast units were threaded onto vertical
steel rods; where they form a continuous
unit, they act as structural columns or wall
slabs. In the non-supporting sections, the
slats are evenly spaced. Steps, seats and
counter tops are inserted into these gaps;
switches and supply lines are also con- aa bb
cealed here.

a a

c 2 3
1 7

4
9
2 6
5 8
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Mini-house in Kobe 2

3 b
1
Sections
scale 1:20
2

1 stainless-steel cap (on top of steel-cable

tensioning at street front)
2 50/180 mm precast concrete
used throughout the house for 1800 slats of
up to 3600 mm in length;
slats over 1000 mm long are tensioned
along their length with two steel cables
(circular stainless-steel caps visible on
the ends)
3 skylight, 10 mm transparent polycarbonate
4 transparent glass strips, 15 + 15 + 19 mm
5 sliding panel, toughened glass in
aluminium frame
6 sisal carpet, 100 mm reinforced concrete
50/180 mm precast concrete
cc 7 translucent glass strips, 15 + 15 + 19 mm
8 ¯ 23 mm steel cable for threading precast
concrete slats in the solid,
supporting wall sections; after threading,
cables tensioned per floor
(basement: 300 kN; ground floor: 250 kN;
1st floor: 150 kN), then intermediate areas
7 3 between cables and slats filled in with
jointing mortar
9 sandwich panel, galvanized steel skin enclosing
rigid PU foam core, on steel spacers
10 6/50 mm stainless-steel bar
11 50 mm wooden step, bolted between precast
concrete slats
3 Mini-house in Kobe 2006 ´ 2 ¶

2 9

10

11

Photo: Kouji Okamoto/Techni Staff, Fukuoka

dd

d
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG
House in Chur
Architect and Structural engineer:
Patrick Gartmann, Chur
High above the upper Rhine valley, on the
slopes of Hochwang mountain, is this three-
storey detached house. Situated within an
area subject to a rigorous development plan
(drawn up by Bearth and Deplazes), this
cuboid volume unfolds inside in a virtuoso
sequence of spaces Ð from the living room
at the top with a picture-book view of Chur
and the mountains beyond to the large
kitchen/dining room on the ground floor,
which has direct access to the garden. Only
a few materials were used in its construc-
tion, most of them left untreated, for example
exposed concrete and solid walnut and
larchwood. The special feature of this
house, however, is its monolithic construc-
aa
Sections ¥ Floor plans 2 Entrance
scale 1:400 3 Living room
1 Courtyard 4 Bedroom
9 2
8
10
Site plan
scale 1:1500
tion. Its sculpted outer form is produced not
by intricate multiple layering, but through the
use of a single, solid material Ð concrete.
Depending on structural requirements or re-
quired insulation values, the walls are made
of either ordinary concrete or insulation-
grade structural concrete. The outer walls
are 45 cm thick (U-value: 0.58 W/m2K ap-
prox.) and the roof slab 60 Ð 65 cm (U-value:
0.4 W/m2K approx.). No further layers were
necessary Ð no insulation, no plaster, no
render, not even any metal flashing or gravel
on the roof. The insulating concrete was de-
veloped by the architect himself, in co-oper-
ation with two manufacturing firms. In this
new product, gravel was replaced by ex-
5 Bathroom 8 Dining/kitchen
6 Study 9 Services
7 Apartment 10 Terrace
a a
6 7
2006 ´ 2 ¶
panded clay and sand by expanded glass.
Like the expanded clay, the glass pellets
are insulating and lightweight. Their shape
promotes good flowability and helps control
undesirable reactions between the glass
and the cement that could lead to spalling
and rust. No surface treatment was applied,
except for on the roof, where a UV-resistant,
permanently elastic coat of plastic-modified
cement slurry was applied to prevent mois-
ture penetration. Although this special con-
crete was almost twice as expensive as
conventional concrete, savings were made
in terms of fewer trades on site, a shorter
build time and because the outer skin is only
a single-layer construction.
bb
b
5 3
4
b
¶ 2006 ´ 2 House in Chur 2

Photo: Thomas Dix/architekturphoto, DŸsseldorf

3 10
cc
3 House in Chur 2006 ´ 2 ¶

1 2

10

5 5
1

3 11 8

Vertical section ¥ Horizontal section

scale 1:20

1 sealant, 2-component fine stopper

2 600 Ð 650 mm insulating concrete
to falls
3 450 mm insulating concrete
4 fixed glazing:
12 mm toughened glass + 10 mm
cavity + 8 mm float glass
5 floor construction second floor:
10
300 mm reinforced concrete
slab with white cement and
pale-coloured aggregates,
surface-sanded,
underfloor heating concreted in
6 timber casement window
c c
7 drainpipe ¯ 20 mm stainless steel
8 floor construction first floor:
30/180 mm larch boarding
50 mm battens on mat
220 mm reinforced concrete
9 floor construction ground floor:
9 30/180 mm larch boarding
50 mm battens on mat
200 mm reinforced concrete
100 mm polystyrene thermal insulation
10 glass sliding door in timber frame
11 heating and services conduit
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG 2006 ´ 2 ¶

Apartment block in Basel

Architects:
Miller & Maranta, Basel
Assistants:
Peter Baumberger (Project Manager),
Ines Sigrist, Patrick von Planta,
Marco Husmann, Clemens
Blessing (Construction Management)
Structural engineer:
Conzett / Bronzini / Gartmann, Chur

The park surrounding Villa Schwarz is an
important recreation space for people living
on the outskirts of Basel. On this site the
architects interpreted the idea of a ÒvillaÓ
not as a free-standing single-family house,
but as an eight-storey housing block with
31 apartments. The idea of creating an
Òarborial structureÓ was important in the
design. Despite its size and volume, there is
no sense of any great mass, thanks to a
double-angled ground plan and the intrica-
cy and diversity in the facade design. Built
to an irregular grid, the concrete support
frame for the facades is stained dark brown.
The trees in the park are reflected in the sto-
rey-high windows, enhancing the integrating
effect. The external blinds angle out slightly
towards the bottom, thus emphasising the
sculptural nature of the building volume. The
self-supporting facade is a mix of both pre-
cast components and in-situ concrete. It is
connected to the floor slabs only on the nar-
row sides. The ground floor is designed as a
parterre. At its base the structure is set back
slightly, this distinctive narrowing giving the
building the appearance of floating above
the ground.
The two foyer areas also appear spacious
and light. The concrete walls in these en-
trance areas are colour-stained in the same
way as the facade. The communications
core and staircases also share the same
dark coloration, creating a very introverted
impression. Inside the apartments, however,
the mood changes completely. The almost
fully glazed facades open up the space to
the surrounding park.
On the west side, looking into the park, are
loggias and rooms that can be used for a
variety of functions. The living rooms on the
standard floors extend across the whole
depth of the building. From the east-facing
rooms there is a view over the adjacent
stream. The 5 1/2-roomed apartments at the
ends have daylight from three sides: out on
the loggia the impression of living in the
park is strongest. From here you can even
smell the trees.

5 5 5

5
2
4
2
3 5 5
3
6 6 4
5
4 2 5 5

3 2
6 4
5
3
5 5
a 6

5 5 5

aa 2
4
1 3
3 5 5 5
2
6
5 1 5 5
5
Section ¥ Floor plans 3 Kitchen a 2
scale 1:500 4 Lounge/dining room 4
1 Entrance 5 Room 5
2 Hallway 6 Loggia 3
5 5
6
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Apartment block in Basel 2

9 10

bb

Photo: Ruedi Walti, Basel

3 Apartment block in Basel 2006 ´ 2 ¶

1 1

2 7

3 8 3

5 5
6 6

12 12
Vertical sections
Horizontal section
scale 1:20

1 extensively planted roof

100 mm planted layer
filter mat, drainage
1 mm root-inhibitor membrane
2Å 3 mm bitumen seal
separation layer
thermal insulation
200 mm rigid-foam polystyrene
200 Ð 300 mm reinforced concrete to falls
10 mm gypsum plaster
2 slatted sun blind, 70 mm aluminium
3 handrail, 25/70/4 mm powder-coated
steel profile 9
4 parapet, laminated safety glass:
2Å 8 mm toughened glass
5 5/80 mm steel flat, powder-coated
6 40/60/4 mm steel profile 11
powder-coated
7 thermal insulation, mineral wool
8 double glazing:
2Å 6 mm float glass + 12 mm cavity
softwood and aluminium window frame
9 double glazing:
2Å 6 mm toughened
glass + 16 mm cavity in aluminium
post-and-rail facade 10
10 84 mm aluminium entrance door with
thermally separated b b
stove-enamelled steel frame
11 250 mm precast concrete element
colour-stained
thermal insulation
80 mm mineral wool
vapour barrier
30 mm thermal insulation
between 40/80 mm battens
25 mm plasterboard, double layer
12 10 mm oak parquet
100 (80) mm cement screed with
underfloor heating,
footstep sound insulation
20 (40) mm mineral wool
220 mm reinforced concrete
10 mm gypsum plaster
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Apartment block in Basel 4

dd

cc

1 1
c

2 2

Sections
scale 1:5

1 handrail, 50/10 mm steel flat,

d d
treated with zinc-rich primer
then painted
edges rounded
3 5 6 3 4 5 2 handrail standard,
¯ 20/4 mm steel tube,
treated with zinc-rich primer
then painted
3 30 mm colour-stained
high-strength screed
staircase, in-situ concrete
c 4 3 mm foamed-plastic joint strip
5 8/190/60 mm steel footplate
6 levelling layer, liquid cement
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG 2006 ´ 2 ¶

School in Niederhasli

Architects:
BŸnzli & Courvoisier Architects, Zurich
Assistants:
Samuel BŸnzli, Simon Courvoisier,
Dario Mirra
Structural engineer:
Aerni + Aerni, Zurich

bb

aa

13 10 10 10

Niederhasli, a village of just 8,000 inhabit- 11 11 11

12
ants close to the outskirts of Zurich, has a
mix of different housing styles. This new
school is adjacent to a group of 1970s high-
rise apartment blocks on the southwest, 12
whereas it overlooks fields and meadows on 10 10 10
the northeast. The low, linear school build- 14
ing acts like a visual link in this heterogene-
ous setting.
At the same time the uncompromising ex-
posed concrete of the facade gives the b

building its own distinctive identity. Inside,

cool visual concrete is used on the walls
and warm-toned larchwood for the furniture, 4 5 7 8
a juxtaposition that further enhances the ef-
fect of each material. This materiality is es-
pecially strong in the classrooms, which are a 2 6 9 9
panelled entirely in wood, creating a calm,
cosy atmosphere. Larchwood also appears 3 9 a
on the classroom facades. A weightier,
more solid impression is created in the hall
and stairwells with their thick walls of visual 1
concrete. Daylight falling through the sky-
lights into the stairwells further dramatises
this material effect. b
In recent years the population of this small
village has been growing rapidly, and the
school needs to expand continuously. Provi-
sion is made for this in the arrangement of Site plan 1 Entrance hall 6 Kitchen 11 Group room
the ground plan Ð an additive system based scale 1:2000 2 Gymnasium 7 Workshop 12 Changing room
3 Caretaker 8 Crafts room 13 Staffroom
on identical sections, each containing a
Floor plans 4 Equipment room 9 Storage 14 Staff
staircase, two classrooms and a group scale 1:500 5 Dining hall 10 Classroom cloakroom
room, that can be built on as required.
 ¶ 2006 ´ 2 School in Niederhasli 2

Sections 100 mm wood fibreboard

scale 1:500
Detail sections
scale 1:20
1 window vent, sandwich construction:
21 mm oiled larch board
frame
60 mm thermal insulation
acoustic insulation
5 mm heavy grade foil
21 mm oiled larch board
2 27 mm oiled larch board
with 10 mm joints, acoustic mat
vapour barrier
400 mm reinforced concrete
3 27 mm oiled larch planks
vapour barrier
180 mm wood fibreboard
400 mm reinforced concrete
4 sun screen, fabric blinds
5 black-out blinds
6 27 mm oiled larch board
vapour barrier
60 mm wood fibreboard
400 mm reinforced concrete
7 built-in cupboard, 27 mm oiled larch
8 18 mm gypsum-bound plywood,
non-combustible
veneered, hard-waxed larch

1
2
4
5
1

a a b b

c c
3 3

1 6

aa bb cc 7
3 School in Niederhasli 2006 ´ 2 ¶

1 2

dd

Photo: Hannes Henz, ZŸrich

d d

Horizontal section
Vertical section
scale 1:5

1 lifting-sliding door, larch 4

2 wall construction:
27 mm non-combustible
fibrated concrete board
hard-waxed veneered larchwood
vapour barrier
160 mm wood fibreboard
400 mm reinforced concrete
3 27 mm non-combustible
fibrated concrete board
hard-waxed, veneered larchwood
vapour barrier
70 mm rockwool between
timber profiles of support structure
400 mm reinforced-concrete floor
4 floor construction:
100 mm granolithic screed
polythene sheeting
thermal insulation,
120 mm extruded polystyrene
300 mm reinforced concrete, watertight
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG 2006 ´ 2 ¶

Church complex in Louisiana

Architects:
Trahan Architects, Baton Rouge
Victor F. ÔTreyÕ Trahan
Assistants:
Kirk Edwards, Brad Davis
Structural engineers:
Schrenk & Peterson Consulting Engineers,
New Orleans

aa

Section ¥ Floor plan

scale 1:750

1 Oratory (chapel)
2 Ramp
3 Religious education
4 Classroom
5 Courtyard
6 Covered walkway
7 Administration
8 Private courtyard
Photo: Timothy Hursley, USA-Little Rock/Arkansas

This new church complex for the Catholic

community of St. Amant in Louisiana gathers 4
together a range of facilities and functions
that were previously spread out across a
wider area in and around the town. The ar-
chitect drew up a master plan for an ensem-
ble of classrooms, administration offices 3
and a small chapel. The single-storey build-
ings, connected by a covered walkway, are 4 5
grouped around a central courtyard with
chapel. With its lush green grass and care-
ful landscaping this inner space brings the
surrounding countryside into the complex.
Around the chapel the ground is lowered, a a a
1
ramp leads to the entrance. As with all the
solid surfaces in the ensemble, here, too, 2
the ramp and the chapel interior are of rein-
forced concrete with an in-situ finish of a
high visual standard. Surfaces, walls and 6
floors outside and inside form a single visual
continuum and create a harmonious mono- 7

lithic impression.
Because of the warm climate in this part of 8
the United States, the in-situ concrete,
poured with high precision, did not need to
be insulated. Large vertical expanses of
glass and carefully placed skylights harness
light as a feature of the spatial design. In the
chapel light is filtered down through angled
shafts integrated in the solid concrete walls
(which are up to 2.70 m thick). The use of in-
direct lighting enhances the meditative
mood in the small space.
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Church complex in Louisiana 2

Section through chapel scale 1:50

1 skylight: 12.7 mm toughened glass,

joints fixed with adhesive
2 lightwell, shaped by rigid-foam formwork elements
wrapped with plastic laminate to produce a smooth,
semi-reflective finish
3 bitumen-based roof sealing system
installations space between 2Å 100 mm
reinforced-concrete floor
4 outside wall, not insulated
300 Ð 2700 mm reinforced concrete
5 cross, 100/12.7 mm pre-patinated steel plate,
screw fixings concealed
6 floor slab, 280 mm smooth-trowelled reinforced
concrete on blinding layer
7 door, 25 Ð 50 mm cast glass, convex on both sides
held at upper and lower edges in 25/25 Ð 50 mm
and 50/25Ð50 mm stainless-steel profiles
sill, 6.3 mm stainless-steel profile
8 suspended ramp, 250 Ð 500 mm reinforced concrete

1 1

5 2

6 8

aa
3 Church complex in Louisiana
Section
Covered walkway/classroom
scale 1:50
1 roof over walkway
in-situ concrete unit
poured in fibreglass formwork
50 mm thick wall
foam-filled cavity,
poured with column
2 counterweight
¯ 50 mm reinforcing bars
3 ¯ 355 mm reinforced-concrete
column, rigidly fixed
4 walkway, reinforced-concrete
element to 100 mm falls
5 canopy, 76 mm reinforced
concrete
2006 ´ 2 ¶
6 storey-height glazing
12.7 mm laminated glass
7 ¯ 254 mm reinforced-concrete
column
8 coping, 6 mm anodized
aluminium
9 roof sealing system,
bitumen-based
200 mm reinforced-concrete
floor,
fixed between partition walls
10 skylight glazing:
12.7 mm laminated glass
11 external wall, not insulated
200 mm reinforced concrete
12 floor, 100 mm reinforced-concrete
slab, smooth-trowelled finish on
blinding layer
8 9 10
5 6 7 11
4 12
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG 2006 ´ 2 ¶

Dutch Embassy in Ethiopia

Architects:
Dick van Gameren und Bjarne Mastenbroek,
Amsterdam
Abba Architects, Addis Ababa
Assistants:
Remco van Buuren, Mike Davis,
Matteo Fosso, Willmar Groenendijk
Structural engineers:
Ove Arup & Partners, London
Messele Haile Engineering, Addis Ababa

The new Dutch embassy in Ethiopia is situ-

ated in a eucalyptus wood on the outskirts
of Addis Ababa. The long, horizontal struc-
ture cuts across the sloping terrain. Along
its length the sandy-red, rough-shuttered
concrete building is penetrated and articu-
lated by the landscape, thus forming a
strong link between inside and outside
space. A broad canopy, characteristic of
Dutch architecture, extends over the en-
trance to the administration area in an ex-
pansive, welcoming gesture. Inside, the lin-
ear, centrally positioned entrance hall rises
gently with the slope. To the left and right of
this hall are the offices. Located at the east-
ern end of the building, on the second floor,
are the ambassadorÕs offices. From here, Photo: Christian Richters, MŸnster
there is access to the walk-on roof land-
scape, a long expanse of sculpted concrete
poured in situ. The main approach road to
the embassy building also connects direct
to the ambassadorÕs private apartment,
which is lit by a central patio. By exploiting
aa
the different levels on the site in the design
concept, the lower living areas remain sepa-
rate from the public reception area. The
charm of this project derives from the spatial
complexity of the rough textured, horizontal-
ly structured concrete surfaces, which are
carefully interspersed with openings.

Section
Floor plans
scale 1:1250
9 7 6 6 5
1 Main entrance 12 8 10 8 2
2 Central hall
11 11 9 7 5 6
3 Reception counter
4 Library
5 Void
6 AmbassadorÕs offices
7 Administration
8 Patio
9 Technical systems,
stores
10 Approach road 3
11 Salon / reception a a
12 2 1
12 AmbassadorÕs private
apartment 12 4
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Dutch Embassy in Ethiopia 2

1 2 3

Vertical section
scale 1:20

1 200 mm reinforced concrete,

red pigmented,
cast in horizontal formwork
2 mm bitumen seal
2 80 Ð 240 mm concrete,
poured in layers 6
sealing coat
1 mm separation layer
80 mm expanded-polystyrene
insulation, vapour barrier
300 mm concrete 7
3 ¯ 800 mm lightwell
4 200 mm reinforced concrete
80 mm mineral wool
vapour barrier
10 mm plasterboard 8
3 mm gypsum plaster
5 hook-out window,
8 mm laminated safety glass
sealed with silicon to
aluminium profile
6 350 mm reinforced concrete
7 reception window,
bullet-proof fixed glazing:
23.5 mm laminated safety glass
with special film inlay in 9
40/35/5 mm aluminium
channel-section
8 330/32 mm aluminium sliding
compartment
in 570/140 mm aluminium tray
9 70 mm polished concrete
1 mm polythene separation layer
230 mm reinforced concrete
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG
Cultural centre in Valencia
Architect:
Eduardo de Miguel ArbonŽs, Valencia
Assistants:
Arancha Mu–oz Criado, David Zaragaza
Aznar, Pablo Fuertes PŽrez, Antonio Garc’a
Blay, Rafael Bellver Garc’a
Structural engineers:
Sondeos, Estructuras y GeotŽcnica, SEG,
Valencia
The El Cabanyal district, a former fishing
port in the east of Valencia, is a mix of small-
scale historical development and buildings
from the 1960s and Õ70s. Easily distin-
guished against this heterogeneous environ-
ment is the El Musical cultural centre with its
angular, exposed concrete structure and
clear, stark language of forms. It was built
on a U-shaped plot, almost entirely en-
closed by the fire walls of the surrounding
buildings. These circumstances presented
technical challenges in construction, partic-
ularly as regards the back wall of the audito-
rium. Strongly fluctuating groundwater levels
called for a fully waterproof ground slab.
El Musical replaces an earlier arts centre
a
c
3 2
a 7
4
Site plan
scale 1:2000
Floor plans ¥ Sections
scale 1:800
aa
which could no longer be renovated.
The only part of this older structure to be re-
tained is the Plaza del Rosario facade; part-
ly reconstructed, this facade maintains the
distinctive urban character of the square.
Behind this classicist portal, the visitor is
surprised to find a modern, spacious inter-
ior. Beyond a small, high-ceilinged entrance
hall and low corridor is the foyer of the 400-
seater auditorium. Single-flight staircases
lead up to the upper storeys where there is
a cafŽ and outdoor area, functions and con-
ference rooms and a reading room. A sepa-
rate tract accommodating ancillary functions
is accessible directly from the street. Inside
the foyer there is a tremendous impression
b
c 3
5
1
1 Entrance 5 Cloakrooms
2 Foyer 6 Cafeteria
3 Auditorium 7 Salon
4 Stage door 8 Office
10
8
7
bb
2006 ´ 2 ¶
of space. Vertical exposed concrete walls
shoot up 12 metres from the pale grey mar-
ble floor. At the back of the concert hall, the
rear wall, clad with wooden slats, also tow-
ers up, curving round to merge with the ceil-
ing which is structured in the same way.
Daylight filters through this wooden grid on
the ceiling at two strip-like skylights. The
space between the auditorium wall and the
outer wall is used as a corridor, while also
serving ventilation and lighting purposes.
Light shafts rise up beyond the roof surface,
directing daylight down into the auditorium
via light-coloured wooden panels. The stage
is fully equipped for up to 70 people, and
can be used for all kinds of events.
6
9 Conference
hall
10 Reading
room
8
8
cc
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Cultural centre in Valencia 2

Section
scale 1:20

9
6

1
5

10

3 4

1 roof construction:
25 mm gravel
filter mat, loosely laid
thermal insulation,
35 mm extruded polystyrene
separation layer, filter mat
sealing, two layers
20 mm cement mortar
roof floor, trapezoid sheet with
150 mm concrete topping
2 steel I-section, 500 mm deep
3 aluminium profile
4 acoustic mat,
25 Ð 40 mm mineral wool
5 cladding, 20 mm iroko-
veneered plywood
6 double glazing:
2Å 6 mm + 8 mm cavity
7 wall cladding,
30 mm Macael marble
8 exterior wall,
220 mm reinforced concrete 11
9 textile sunshade 4
10 EPDM bearing 7
11 light strip
3 Cultural centre in Valencia 2006 ´ 2 ¶

Section
scale 1:20 7
6 8
1

1 roof construction:
25 mm gravel
filter mat, loosely laid
thermal insulation,
35 mm extruded polystyrene
separation layer, filter mat
sealing, two layers
20 mm cement mortar
roof floor,
trapezoid sheet with
150 mm concrete topping
2 steel I-section, 500 mm deep
3 aluminium profile
4 acoustic mat,
40 mm mineral wool
5 cladding, 30/30 mm iroko-veneered
laminated wood
6 skylight made of welded
15 mm steel plate
7 40/40/4 mm steel angle
8 skylight,
3Å 10 mm laminated safety glass
9 150 mm reinforced concrete wall
10 floor construction:
22 mm beech parquet
30/70 mm battens
moisture seal
60 mm reinforced concrete
800/200/30 mm hollow clay blocks
Photo: Duccio Malagamba, Barcelona
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Cultural centre in Valencia 4

3 4 3 4
4

5
5 5
9

10
1 © Institut fŸr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co. KG
Company headquarters in Munich-Riem
Architects:
JŸrke Architects, Munich
Assistants:
Peter Glšckner (Project Manager),
Christiane Kern, Markus FlŠmig,
Florian Lippmann
Structural engineers:
Stegerer.Zuber.Brand, Munich
In the business district of Riem to the east
of MunichÕs trade-fair centre, this monolithic
concrete structure turns its back on neigh-
bouring buildings, positioning its entrance
instead on the south side. This main front is
a two-storey, transparent shop window,
whereas the north elevation, through which
the actual working operations of the compa-
ny are reached, presents a more closed as-
pect. The only interruption to the continu-
ous expanse of exposed concrete (see also
pp. 190 ff.) is a black sliding gate. The
buildingÕs concrete walls, up to 70 cm thick
in places, provide an impressive backdrop
for the display of contemporary and classi-
cal furniture inside. The building, which
cc
bb
aa
Sections ¥ Floor plans
scale 1:1000
1 Entrance ramp
2 Showroom
3 Workshop
4 Warehouse
5 Delivery courtyard
6 Void
7 Training room
8 Office
9 Roof terrace
shines like polished marble in the rain, is di-
vided into three separate zones, each at a
different temperature: offices and exhibition
area in the south, the warehouse in the mid-
dle and a delivery courtyard in the north.
The different expansion coefficients of the
in-situ concrete walls are taken into account
by incorporating reinforcement and re-
straints, without the need for expansion
joints. A large trussed girder forms the
structural backbone along the main axis,
spanning between the stores and the offic-
es, and forming the framework for a delicate
glass pavilion above the stairwell. This
serves as an attractive exhibition space and
leads to a wooden viewing platform on the
5 4
b b
c c
2006 ´ 2 ¶
Site plan
scale 1:5000
roof terrace. The materials used contribute
to the atmosphere of simplicity and reserve.
The steel components in the two-storey col-
umn-free warehouse were merely oil-rubbed
and flame-treated. The post-and-rail facade
on the south side is of pale birchwood in the
interior and of coated aluminium profiles on
the weather side. Free-spanning textile sun-
shades give protection here against strong
sun. The matt grey of the exposed concrete
walls, the black asphalt floor and the linear
arrangement of the lighting create a cool,
elegant atmosphere in the exhibition areas.
Only the functional core in the open-plan of-
fice sets a contrasting accent with the bright
red of the company logo.
9
6 2
6 8
7 6
a
2
1
3 2
a
¶ 2006 ´ 2 Company headquarters in Munich-Riem 2

Photo: Florian Holzherr, Munich

6
1

3 4 5 2
7 6

4
1

8 5

Horizontal section ¥ Vertical section stained black on the outside,

scale 1:20 profile dimensions:
76-98 mm x 60 mm
4 double glazing:
1 300 mm reinforced concrete 2x 6 mm float glass +
thermal insulation, 14 mm cavity
100 mm rigid polystyrene foam 5 20/100 mm perimeter recess
300 mm reinforced concrete 6 40/22 mm steel anchor channel
2 110/110 mm recess for the perimeter fixing to the
for sunscreen outer sliding layer
3 sliding window, oak, 7 drip
oiled on the inside, 8 window sill, 2% slope
3 Company headquarters in Munich-Riem 2006 ´ 2 ¶

1
2

7
4 5

6
8

Vertical section
scale 1:20

1 30 mm gravel
separation layer
2 mm plastic sheeting
70 mm veneered laminated wood board
2 clamping strip, 80/4 mm stainless-steel bar
3 apron flashing, 160/700 mm reinforced
10
11 concrete with drip
4 sunscreen, divided horizontally in the
middle, in 250/240 mm recess
5 fluorescent tubes
6 160 mm reinforced concrete,
11 trapezoidal shape
7 500/900 mm reinforced concrete
8 thermal insulation, 50 mm rigid foam board
9 wooden planks on galvanized steel frame
20/140 mm larchwood
sealing layer, 2 mm plastic membrane
thermal insulation,
140 mm rigid foam board
300 mm reinforced concrete
10 post-and-rail facade
60/160 mm birch-veneered plywood
50 mm aluminium fixing profile, coated
11 double glazing:
12 6 mm toughened glass + 16 mm cavity
13
+ 6 mm laminated safety glass
12 sunscreen in 195/210 mm recess
13 340 mm reinforced concrete
14 140/180/10 mm steel angle
15 100/250 mm underfloor convector
16 140 mm cavity flooring
17 300 mm reinforced-concrete floor

15 16

14

17