The new UBS AG headquarter is located in Europaallee in Zurich. It is designed by three differents architectural firms: David Chipperfield Architects, Max Dudler and Gigon / Guyer. The building that we introduce you today is the one which is designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
The headquarter is projected as a cluster of four buildings that generate an inner courtyard. All of them have different accesses to this courtyard through free spaces and voids in the façades.
One of the goals of the project are the bridges which connect all the buildings. The whole complex is connected for a generous corridor in the first floor, allowing the circulation between different volumes. The transparency that this areas shown, is a symbol of respect to the city and the way of locating on it.
Memory of project
Freischützgasse House, the new eight-storey building designed by David Chipperfield Architects, occupies the north-east corner of the site. The narrow front end opens onto the new Europaallee, while its long side extends along Freischützgasse. The strict rationality of its floor plan, also reflected in its façade, is softened by the floor-height facade bands which meander in opposing directions. The resulting bas-relief effect is further enhanced by printed synthetic mesh with different levels of perforation in the external glass panels. The appearance of the building changes depending on the prevailing light and viewing angle. In its perception it oscillates between heaviness and lightness, austerity and playfulness, enclosure and openness and in doing so enters into a lively dialogue with its surroundings.
On the ground floor, the entrance lobby creates a link between Freischützgasse and the inner courtyard. Two storeys in height, the lobby offers views into the first floor offices as well as the communal corridor. This generously-proportioned corridor, facing the inner courtyard, connects all four office buildings at first floor level. Bridge areas on all the other floors enable direct access to the adjoining buildings. The new building’s interior is defined by its rational floor plan, which provides a maximum degree of flexibility through column-free spaces. The bay-like niches set into the building’s façade afford attractive views across Europaallee boulevard, as well as into the publicly accessible inner courtyard.
Text.- David Chipperfield Architects.
CREDITS.-
Architect.- David Chipperfield Architects.
Partners.- Christoph Felger and Harald Müller.
Project Architect.- Sven Schönwetter and Ulrich Goertz.
Project team.- Ole Hallier, Guido Kappius, Kathrin Löscher, Fabian Mainzer, Anna Naumann, Katrin Sommer, Linda von Karstedt, Urs Vogt (schematic design to final proposals), Martin Geyer, Paul Hillerkus, Guido Kappius, Philipp Oesch (construction phase).
Collaborators.- Schweingruber Zulauf Landschaftsarchitekten (landscape architects), Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner, Beratende Ingenieure VBI GmbH, Berlin, Dr. J. Grob & Partner AG, Winterthur (structural engineers), bürgin & keller management & engineering ag, Adliswil, Thomas Lüem + Partner AG, Dietikon (electrical engineers), Polke, Ziege, von Moos AG Ingenieure für Gebäudetechnik, Zurich (building services), Kopitsis Bauphysik AG, Wohlen (building physics/acoustics), Gruner AG Ingenieure und Planer, Zurich (fire protection engineers), matí AG Lichtgestaltung, Adliswil (lighting designers), gkp fassadentechnik ag, Aadorf (façade planning) y Amstein + Walthert AG, Zurich (security planning).
Date.- 2010 (geginning of construction), 2013 (completion).
Site surface area.- 7.400 m².
Client.- UBS AG, Zurich.
