Location | Zug ZG |
Client | Canton of Zug |
Commission | Competition 2013 |
Planning | 2014–2020 |
Construction | 2021–2027 |
Architects | Graber & Steiger Architekten, Project Architect: Urs Schmid |
Consultants | Structural engineer: Dr. Schwartz Consulting, Project Manager: PBK AG, Mechanical Engineer: Markus Stolz, Electrical Engineer: Scherler AG |
Although the new headquarters were to occupy a considerable amount of urban space, this design ensures multifaceted legibility on different levels of scale due to its permeable structure, thereby allowing it to mediate between the different grains of the surrounding environment. The alternating stacking of building wings creates a multifaceted spatial principle that provides good overviews and order. The proposed typology with its courtyards, rooftop gardens and open and covered terraces enhances the workplaces, ensuring a balanced provision of daylight despite the great depth of the rooms. The chosen spatial principle – especially the spatially effective load-bearing structures – elegantly offers column-free rooms with maximum flexibility both on the ground floor and on the upper storeys. The headquarters’ direct construction method and concise symbolism are reminiscent of the character of traditional infrastructure buildings.
'PoroCity - Enabling Structures by Graber & Steiger Architects' is a site-specific spatial installation that developed for the exhibition in Dhaka. At the venue of Kalakendra and the adjacent urban space, the installation explores the concept of "enabling structures" in different architectural and urban scales.
Porous structures can be a solid basis for welcoming places and unfold a permeable framework for lively social interactions and future-oriented transformations. Through a balanced character, built structures can be enablers for a resource-optimised, sustainable design of living spaces.
The ephemerally conceived exhibition provides a small insight into our works, which strive for permeable spatial structures that invite free appropriation by the users. The opportunity to present buildings and projects far away from their context of origin can stimulate a dialogue about specifically local, but also universal aspects of architectural structures. We can thus expect a critical examination of hitherto familiar design approaches, which can show us broader perspectives.
The scenographic setting of the installation is embedded in a circular concept of reusing the modular exhibition structure in the everyday life of Dhaka's micro-urbanism. Besides the visitors of the exhibition, every city dweller is invited to participate in the concept of "Enabling Structures" in the long run by reusing the micro-structures designed for the exhibition.
The exhibition is support by Swiss Cultural Council ProHelvetia.
8 - 29 May 2023
8 May 2023, 6:30 pm
Kalakendra Art Space, Lalmatia Dhaka