Building by Baumschlager & Eberle

Dietmar EBERLE
Department of Architecture,
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich

1 ACHSLENGUT

Achslengut Residential Project, Second Segment in St.Gallen, Switzerland

(Figure 1-6)

This project is characterised by a very specific history: B&E were asked to participate in
the planning after the project had already been awarded to a Swiss architecture office. However,
the construction plan for the entire project had been defined by this time. Therefore, the first
construction segment was completed according to previously established wing depth and length
parametres. Finally, a change in the construction plans was agreed on after all. Hence the second
segment is a radically different, much more useful urban structure. They are housing "dots",
compact structures with interior access and projecting balcony zones. The placement of the
buildings is important: it is a composition based on the view of Lake Constance.
Glass sliding elements are located in front of the apartments, some are transparent, some
aren't. This allows for ideal regulation of two things: spacing and interior view problems between
the residential buildings. If, for example, someone slides two such panels in front of the bedroom,
nobody can look inside, the tenant's privacy is protected. On the other hand, the individual
turbulences of use on the balconies that often disturb public spaces are concealed this way. Thus a
clear separation between public and private interests was achieved with these simple means.
The residents make use of the possibilities this faqade solution offers in a very matter-of-
fact fashion. It should be noted that the specific geometric appearance of these residential
buildings is not affected by the individual behavioural patterns of the tenants. They are never really
closed nor ever really open. This was intended from the beginning and it is what makes this
project's architectural design so special. Somehow, it stands up to everyday use with complete
ease.

Figure I Figure 17

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 Figure 3 Figure 4

F i ~ u r e5 Figure 6

2. MEGAHALL

Mega Hall for Beijing, China

(Figure 7- 10)

Bauherr I client Beijing Modern Hong Yun Real Estate Dev. Co, Ltd
Planung I planning Baumschlager Eberle Anstalt
Projektleitung I project architect Christian Tabernigg
Mitarbeiter I assistance Stefan Beck, Sabrina Contratto, Marc Fisler, Alexia Monauni,
Marlies Sofia
Haustechnik Konzept I mechanical engineer KellerTechnologies
Grundstiicksflache I site area 10.240 m2
Bebaute Flache ( built up area 4.430 m2
Nutzflache ( floor area 1 00.000 m2
Umbauter Raum I building volume 260.000 m3
Planungsbeginn I commencement of planning Juli 1 July 2002
Baubeginn 1 commencement of work Juni I June 2003
Fertigstellung ( completion Juni I June 2005
Gefordert: drei Hochhauser von grorjer stadtischer Dichte, die an einem neuen
Verkehrsknotenpunkt, am Rand der Innenstadt von Peking errichtet werden. Das Areal
umfaat eine ganze Reihe von Neubauten. Die drei Tiirrne von B&E - hohenmal3ig
differenziert von knapp 100 bis knapp 80 Meter - beinhalten in einer horizontal
geschichteten Zone Shopping und Dienstleistungen, dariiber Wohnungen. Besonderes
Augenmerk wurde der Gebaudetechnologie gewidmet. Peking leidet unvergleichbar
starker unter der Umweitbelastung als jede europaische Stadt. Darauf wurde bei der
Planung besonders geachtet - diese spezifische Qualifikation des Biiros war wohl auch ein
Gmnd fur die Beauftragung von B&E.

Program: three high-rise buildings providing great urban density are to be built for
a new traffic hub at the edge of Beijing's inner city. The space comprises a number of new
buildings. The three B&E towers, of differing heights (approx 100 to 80 metres tall) offer
horizontally layered shopping zones and service areas with apartments above these
sections. Special attention was given to the building equipment and technology. Beijing is
under a much greater environmental strain than any European city. This aspect was given
particular importance during planning - this specific qualification was also presumably the
reason for which B&E was hired.

Figure 7
Figure 8

Figure 9 Figure 10
3. MUNICH RE

Munchener Ruck
(Figure 1 1 -22)

"Building in the fabric" or "reconstruction" are inadequate to describe the complexity of

the challenge faced here. After all, Sud I is likely to set a precedent in environmental and aesthetic
terms as well logistically and conceptually. Baumschlager and Eberle have transformed fortress-
like facades and a veritable fox's den in the heart of Munich into a modern office building that
blends in self-confident manner into the old neighbourhood that surrounds it. They have turned a
monolithic late 1960s block that stood right next to Munchener Riick's headquarters in Schwabing
just a stone's throw away from the English Garden into a finely structured ensemble. Hidden away
behind the ingenious double faqade are modern offices and a new space continuum, light and
generous, which incites views and establishes a relationship with the environment.
The architects were obliged to meet a large number of specifications. Apart from the load-
bearing structure they had to re-use 50% of the building mass and considerably reduce emissions
in what is a residential neighbourhood. In the period from October 1999 to January 2001, when the
new faqade became visible, Baumschlager and Eberle reformulated the area as a sequence of
staggered structures that pick up and re-conceptualise the street space. On the inside, Sud 1 opens
up onto to a courtyard with a shielded park, water and gravel paths beneath maple trees.
Visitors enter the building through a spacious lobby that is 55 metres long, seven metres wide and
six metres tall. It is fitted with Canadian maple like a precious intarsia, yet it is light and airy - a
prelude that is followed by spacious corridors, light wells and long visual axes. In order to fit the
cell offices into the rigid support grid pattern of the previous building Baumschlager and Eberle
devised a flexible system of partition walls that can be adapted to cater for various specifications.
Translucent when facing the corridor and in the form of integrated shear walls between the offices,
they are characteristic of the open structures needed for modem office operations. Forming a
counterpoint to them is the attic floor with its free geometry. The conference and meeting rooms
here are largely invisible from the street and they afford views over Munich across to the
headquarters of Miinchener Ruck and the English Garden, where the shimmering green faqade
finds its real counterpart.

Figure I I Figure 12 Figure 13

 Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16

Figure 17 Figure 18 F i ~ u r e19

Figure 20

SCHOOL MAEDER
ECOLOGICAL MIDDLE SCHOOL MADER, 1998
(Figure 23-30)

Since a couple of years Mader, originally a poor village close to the border to Switzerland,
is longing to achieve the status of an ,,ecological Community". The urban planning concept
comprises a sequence of public squares and connecting paths. This net, in favour of pedestrian
traffic, becomes more dense around the new center, where one finds all scholastic and cultural
amenities, among them, the community center designed by Baumschlager and Eberle in 1995. The
new building of the ,,Eco-Middle-School" upgraded the center of town tremendously. The
positioning of the two volumes, which are separated above ground, generated not only two new
exterior spaces (public plaza and the school's courtyard) but also defined clear edges.
Both volumes, the above ground four story school building and the flat double-gymnasium
(lowered by one third into the ground), are compact and thus minimize the use of surfaces and
energy. The design orients itself to the close relationships between form, function, economy and
ecology. The on all sides double layer of the facade of the school building consists of a wood and
glass construction, which is wrapped by ventilated, scaled glass panels. Depending upon the
position of the sun, the various conditions of transparency change the appearance of the building:
From dematerialization caused by raking light to becoming a mirror of the surroundings. Extensive
glazing of the facades, in conjunction with a central light well and clerestory windows in the
interior walls made of wood; enable natural lighting of the floors, despite the ground floor area of
approximately 80 by 80 feet. On each regular floor, seven peripheral classrooms group around a
generous, central recess space. Ecological approach, economy and quality of space formed a
synthesis in this building.

Figure 23 Figure 24 Figure 25

Figure 26

Figure 29
5. WOHNEN AM LOHBACH

Lohbach Residential Project in Innsbruck, Austria

(Figure 3 1-35)

The first construction phase of a relatively densely set residential project disposed of a
large green area. Next to it lie residential buildings that are heterogeneous in urban and formal
terms and a university area dating back to the sixties.
Economically and ecologically optimised residential construction was required here. Thus
the decision to build cube-like structures with interior access and a projecting balcony zone that
can be closed off from the outside with copper sun protecting elements. The urban project that
results from this concept and its cube-like shape looks similar to a random chess board pattern,
seemingly. In reality the alignment of the individual structures, the views around and through the
project were carefully composed. This was also the case with the spaces between the buildings: the
open spaces - including small gardens in front of the ground level apartments - make it easy to
forget the density of construction.

Figure 31 Figure 32 Figure 33

Figzrre 34 Figzrre 35
 The apartments vary greatly. What is important is: the sun protection elements offered are
used continuously by the residents. Hence the copper cubes envisioned by the architects are really
there and the only openings are those created by residents who have their shutters open. This
interplay between (primarily) closed and (partly) open surfaces is extremely appealing.
There is a second important element: the houses may have been optimised as much as
possible on the outside, but the basic principles of residential construction were adhered to
completely. This is especially the case in terms of access, which was made possible by a truly
attractive hall featuring natural light and glass floor paneling that allows light to reach the lower
level and the subterreanean garage.
Finally, there is a third element: all the ecological possibilities allowed by today's
technology were applied to these houses. These include solar energy panels, heat recovery plants
and rain water use. Thus practically everything that can be achieved without high tech - was
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achieved.
This solution won international awards. The price per square meter ratio is unique. The
residents appreciate this fact.