Page 22 - MODUS NEWS 04
P. 22

GIGON / GUYER
sWitzErlAND
Würthhaus
A greenish crystalline building responds to the unusual location of the site, set between the edge of Lake Constance and Churerstrasse. walkers and passersby experience a glass structure that oscillates between transparency and shiny, reflective surfaces that multiply the natural beauty of the setting.
The interior offers staff and visitors generously proportioned sequences of workspaces, communication areas, and leisure zones, as well as space for product presentations and art exhibitions. The structure responds to the nearby train station building with lower volumes and reacts to the expanses of the park and lake with a higher segment.
Toward the street, the volumes give shape to a range of external spaces through precisely defined projections and setbacks: in the middle is the entrance area, to the east is the vehicle access and workshop zone, and to the west is Bahnhofsplatz, the train station square, which is expanded toward the lake. Maple trees set in a perpendicular configuration characterize this space and also continue as rows along Churerstrasse.
Approaching from the station, a broad canopy signals the main entrance. The various user groups
— visitors, people attending courses, and company staff — enter the building through a large lobby and are guided from this point to the different parts of the building. On the ground floor and first floor, the public functions — training and conference rooms, as well as the restaurant — are grouped around a foyer with an open courtyard in the center and are linked by a sweeping stairway. Both
the conference area and the separate exhibition spaces can be accessed directly from the exterior, allowing the option of using these areas independently from the rest of the building.
A double-glass envelope encases the building. The inner layer is made up of triple glazing and metal-clad thermal insulation. The external, back-ventilated layer is composed of offset greenish glass panes equipped with a fine mesh insert with a metallic luster. This creates a rhythmically articulated curtain wall that provides protection against wind from the lake, noise from the street, and excessive heat and cold. The predominance of glass in the building materials is continued on the roof in the form of CIS photovoltaic panels.
rorschach
Annette Gigon / Mike Guyer
The architectural practice Gigon/Guyer was established in 1989 by its two partners, Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer. Based in Zürich, with approximately 40 employees, the firm has designed various museums and public buildings, alongside high-quality residential and office buildings, both in Switzerland and abroad. The majority of its built work is the result of commissions awarded through competitions. Likewise, the office’s projects have won numerous international awards and have been published worldwide.
www.gigon-guyer.ch www.wuerth-haus-rorschach.ch


































































































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