*라보뱅크 어드바이스 센터 [ mecanoo ] rabobank advice centre

독일 림부르크 작은 언덕 위에 자리한 어드바이스 센터는 라보뱅크, 금융계열의 진보적인 비즈니스 환경 구축을 위해 제안된다. 단순한, 심플한 거대한 단일 구조속에 자리한 다양한 공간들은 마치 나뭇가지처럼 배치, 연결되며 회사가 추구하는 인터렉티브 생태환경을 구현한다. 380명 직원들의 막힘없는 소통을 위해 열린 공간은 개개인의 비젼과 지식을 공유하는 장이자 그들 각자의 고객들에게 확장되는 하이픈의 매개공간으로 디자인된다. 이러한 중심에 위치한 저층부 로비홀은 여러개의 층에서 물결처럼 휘어진 곡선들을 수직으로 연결하는 드라마틱한 계단실과 60미터 대형 커튼으로 구분되는 계단식 오디토리움으로 구성된다. 그리고 이곳을 찾는 방문객들을 위한 워크스페이스, 레스토랑이 배치된다. (우리가 마치 공용도서관을 이용하듯이...) 그 상층부에 위치한 오피스 공간은 오직 직원들을 위한 비즈니스 공간으로 집중 업무실 및 그룹 업무실과 오크월을 따라 메자닛으로 자리한 포트타입의 개별 워크 스테이션이 배치된다.

reviewed by SJ,오사

perched on a small hill in the dutch region of limburg, mecanoo has completed an advice center for the financial organization rabobank. coined the ‘westelijke mijnstreek advice centre’, the project brings together the firm’s various smaller branches within one singular and distinctive structure. taking into account input from the organization’s 320 employees, the scheme is envisioned as a knowledge sharing environment, catalyzing new initiatives and encouraging interdisciplinary engagement. the semi-public design allows self employed customers of the bank to make use of the building, further facilitating a collaborative environment.

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program: 5,375 sqm advice center with a large variety of flexible workspaces and meeting rooms including restaurant and call center
client: rabobank westelijke mijnstreek, sittard
structural engineer: bartels ingenieursbureau BV, eindhoven
electrical and mechanical engineer, acoustics, building physics and fire safety consultant: nelissen ingenieursbureau BV, eindhoven
light consultant: studio rublek, schiphol
city council consultant: LPB sight, nieuwegein
technical landscape consultant: plangroep heggen BV, born
costs consultants and project management: duckers & de cock, eindhoven
design: 2011-2012
execution: 2013-2014

based on the principles of transparency and openness, the entirety of the project’s brushed-oak interior can be viewed upon entry. the focal point of the central hall is an auditorium featuring a staircase tribune capable of accommodating flexible workspaces. enclosing this area, a transparent curtain designed by petra blaisse, runs on a 60-meter track creating diverse spaces and atmospheres depending on the positioning of the drape. staggered terraces protrude beneath the curved ceiling, winding through the expansive volume as connected white ribbons.

the whole of the ground floor, including the on-site restaurant, is open to the public, with visitors encouraged to use available workspaces – just as in a public library. above, offices are accessible only to staff, with spaces ranging from small concentration rooms to more spacious environments that enable group work. further work stations include individual zones positioned along the mezzanine and intimate pods set within the oak wall. to provide a high quality acoustic environment, the call center has its own space on the first floor with a glass separation ensuring that it is visually connected to the rest of the building.

from an environmental perspective, the scheme utilizes residual heat from the nearby chemelot industrial zone, featuring energy saving solutions such as high insulation and triple glazing. the building also has a flat panel air conditioning system facing south, meaning that in warm weather a transparent screen automatically drops in front of the glass façade. this shield reflects the solar energy, while the sun’s heat caught between the building and the screen is mechanically extracted, ensuring that the auditorium remains cool. throughout the design, numerous skylights and a generous provision of glazing guarantees a brightly and naturally lit interior.

from  designboom