The Hypo Bank headquarters consists of two wings built into the earth at the base of the tower, which shoots up seven stories at a dramatic tilt. The structure is angled 14 degrees to the south, which allowing each floor to shade the floor beneath it during hot summer days. Naturally, a great deal of engineering accompanied the building’s planning to make the design economical and workable. The tower features an east-west orientation with a narrow 14 meter-wide floor plan to allow daylight to reach every part of the office space.
The narrow floor plan features operable windows that encourage natural ventilation by allowing fresh air to flow through the spaces and up through the large central atria. Stairs and bridges criss-cross through this large open space, connecting the occupants together. The occupant’s health, happiness, and productivity were also key design criteria, and as such, each office space offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. The building plan optimizes the use of space while encouraging movement and activity in the employees.
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The striking Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank in Udine, Italy may feature a tilting design reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but you can be certain that Morphosis Architects didn’t channel the Pisa Tower’s architect. Normally when architects employ solar to
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Morphosis designed the building with a dramatic 14 degree tilt to provide shade for the lower levels during the heat of the summer.
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The building has a narrow footprint of 14 meters wide, which affords flexibility in the office floor plan while allowing every office access to daylight.
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The Hyp Alpe-Adria Bank headquarters is located at the northern edge of Udine, in the town of Tavagnacco.
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The 26-acre site includes the main headquarters tower, a sweeping low mass containing the secure archive, a local bank branch, an auditorium, and a parking structure.
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The new Hypo headquarters were designed to reflect smart planning and energy efficiency as well as effective utilization of the floor area.
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Morphosis worked with the IN.AR.CO engineering group to develop solutions to the criteria set forth by Hypo, especially regarding how to economically and safely construct the building with the dramatic tilt.
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Though the building form leans to the south by 14 degrees, the columns are continuous and vertical throughout the structural frame.
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Natural daylighting features prominently throughout the building as a result of the narrow footprint and the use of skylights.
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Natural daylighting was a key criteria that aims to create a happy, healthy and productive workspace for the employees.
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Natural ventilation was achieved through the use of operable windows and cross ventilation within the narrow footprint.
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A central core in the tower with skylights at the top holds various criss-crossing stairs and bridges for occupants to move through the space.
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The complex series of spaces supports chance encounters and interaction between all users of the building.
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Each office in the building is afforded a view of the landscape and operable windows that allow for individual control of the environment.
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