BE INSPIRED BY EM2N

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5 Nov 2008 | Architecture | Comments (0)
Contemporary Architecture in Zurich, Switzerland
Architects EM2N made an odd pairing of community and contemporary industrial architecture at the Aussersihl Community Center in Zurich, Switzerland. The architects based their design on the notion that “Not the building alone is the Community Center, but the entire park.” With this in mind, EM2N started on a contemporary structure that would make a statement on its own, while also speaking to its surroundings. According to the architects, “It was clear to us, that there was only one possible way to build in the park: preserving all the trees, minimal footprint, [and] stacking the program.” The original idea for the design included mirror facades. But in order to stick to the prescribed budget, the architects clad a majority of the building in dark green wood panels, and the remainder in mirrors, creating a loosely camouflage effect among the trees. The modern community center strays from traditional horizontal construction with its strongly vertical silhouette. This “stacking” method also allowed for unobstructed, open-concept interiors free from columns and interior walls. EM2N.