Transformation of office building Hohlstrasse 560 Zurich, 2001

This office building, originally built in 1970 by the architect Hans von Meyenburg, is part of the brutalist architecture style. Despite having been carefully planned, daylight inside the building was not ideal due to its low floor heights. The small sized window elements with large profile widths worsened the problem. Building codes allowed for the addition of two storeys which led to a better integration regarding urban planning, so the decision was made for a radical transformation. A new glass-aluminium front with a special marquee on the sunny sides and an all-glass north front give the building a new identity regarding urban development. The conceptually different fronts optimise both daylight and heat protection during summer. Independently from static, they also allow for a facade grid suitable for single, group and open-plan offices. This grid is characterised by a progressive increase towards the corners of the building.