Rarely are the headquarters of a bank such a clear expression of urban life and identity as the new development for the Erste group near Vienna’s main station. With their design for a transparent ensemble that would form a unifying element in the city, the architects Marta Schreieck and Dieter Henke won the European competition for this project.
In the process, they transformed the peripheral block development foreseen in the master plan into a series of curved volumes that would allow the neighbouring Belvedere Park and the Swiss Garden to be drawn into the layout. In addition, the ground floor area is largely open to the public. The various sections of the scheme are linked by a spacious atrium that is bathed in light and by a garden deck on the level above. With their convincing articulation, the building volumes incorporate courtyards, terraces and loggias that serve to create a manifold, flowing spatial landscape.
The high quality of the design extends to the detailling, the choice of materials, the craft workmanship and the haptic character of the surfaces. The transparent two-layer facades to the office storeys, together with the internal and external plantings, underline the concepts of transparency and openness. In this innovative environment are workplaces for some 5,000 employees.
In the process, they transformed the peripheral block development foreseen in the master plan into a series of curved volumes that would allow the neighbouring Belvedere Park and the Swiss Garden to be drawn into the layout. In addition, the ground floor area is largely open to the public. The various sections of the scheme are linked by a spacious atrium that is bathed in light and by a garden deck on the level above. With their convincing articulation, the building volumes incorporate courtyards, terraces and loggias that serve to create a manifold, flowing spatial landscape.
The high quality of the design extends to the detailling, the choice of materials, the craft workmanship and the haptic character of the surfaces. The transparent two-layer facades to the office storeys, together with the internal and external plantings, underline the concepts of transparency and openness. In this innovative environment are workplaces for some 5,000 employees.