Burkard Meyer Architetken

Description

The extension of the ERNE office building in Stein, Switzerland, demonstrates the timber construction company’s full structural expertise and pursues the goal of sustainable construction. The client sees the building as an opportunity to further develop proven construction methods and use new prototype components. The timber- element construction complements the existing modular building to create a coherent new ensemble. Behind the aluminium façade with photovoltaic elements is a wooden house with a supporting structure made of lightly glazed beech. The new part of the building continues the logic of the existing structure with its access routes and the arrangement of the primary spaces. Together with the central staircase in the atrium and the connecting bridges, the horizontal access configuration forms a continuum that creates the vertical connection to the «marketplace» on the first floor. This forms the new centre of the building and offers employees innovative forms of collaborative working thanks to the open space over several storeys. The visible timber columns at the façade level and the internal supporting elements that form the corridors and atrium are combined with a timber-concrete composite ceiling. The stair cores are made of rammed earth that was extracted from the excavation. The clay ensures climate regulation. For the roof construction, a truss made of beech was constructed that spans the room. The hybrid ceiling elements provide cooling, heating and ventilation as well as good room acoustics.