The city block where the building now sits once possessed a gaping hole, which was mainly used as a makeshift parking lot. PRS Architects saw this void as an opportunity to make the block into something truly spectacular. The five floor building, which occupies the once unused space, was capped off with a large patio and green garden roof which, using the juxtaposition of the buildings surrounding it, is “framed” by each structure without closing the garden off. The roof oasis also provides sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding city and nearby mountains.
The glowing white interior can be viewed from the outside through a gridwork of identical square windows that stack together to form each of the building’s facades. A smooth and winding staircase can be viewed through an entire column made from windows, which stretches down one side of the building.
A curvaceous, undulating line is themed throughout both the interior and exterior elements. Curved triangle skylights flood the space with even more light, and match the shape of the curved interior glass walls, which frame an inner courtyard. A uniform color theme of black, white and red makes the design simple, while emphasizing the openness created by the large glass windows throughout.
+ Personeni Raffaele Scharer Architects
Via Arch Daily
