DINZ德网 | Barozzi Veiga · 对称优雅，融入历史场景

In 2011, Barozzi Veiga's design won the international tender for the new extension. During the planning phase, the architects frequently encountered elements of ornamentation in their study of the existing building. "The concept of ornamentation was about adding the pivotal detail to the design," explains Veiga.This led to the creation of a relief-like facade featuring a recurring square element. By shaping the building as a relief, it gains depth and lightness, making the facade the defining feature of the structure. "Without the ornamentation, the volume would possess a completely different appearance," remarks the architect. The blend of a robust structure with delicate detailing, along with the architects' stringent demands on their formal language, dictated the choice of facade material: "Concrete is an extraordinary material because it allows for immense creativity. Nowadays, it can be manipulated in any way desired."

Each individual cassette element comprises not one, but three squares of varying depths. This design, from conception to the completion of the facade, took 36 months to implement. Barozzi Veiga collaborated with Zurich-based architectural firm Feroplan Engineering and concrete plant Sulser on the facade planning.

RECKLI supplied the raw material for the matrices used in producing the elements directly to Sulser in Switzerland. After creating initial models from plaster and wood, the concrete plant crafted the original form in its own carpentry workshop. Subsequent casts were then made from a concrete element. To accurately depict the three squares in concrete, the matrix required a depth of nearly eight centimeters. The technicians incorporated a wooden piece to ensure the staggered elements were represented precisely. They paid meticulous attention to the dimensional accuracy of each shape, ensuring they were depicted in the concrete without displacement and maintained equal distances. In the summer of 2016, the concrete elements were assembled on site.

The building's facade gives the entire structure a unique charm. The light illuminates the components differently depending on the sun's position, and the rain leaves unique traces on each side of the facade, not only enriching the architect's design but also showcasing the distinctive form of concrete.