New building for the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Austrian Academy of Science), in which the Institut für Weltraumforschung (Space Research), the Institut für Biophysik and Röntgenstrukturforschung (Institute for Biophysics and X-Ray Structure Research) and five humanities project groups are gathered together. In connection with changing use and its possible future value as a normal office, the building had to have a flexible layout. The Akademie also wished the building to stimulate interaction between the scientists. The greatest challenge of this international architectural competition lay, however, in accommodating the long series (with a total of 400 metres in length!) of simple offices and laboratories in a building that should nevertheless be stimulating and spacious. Accordingly, the ground plan was formulated in a way that four elongated strips would form two unequal, compound crosses. Three of the arms of the cross are linked together at or near their ends, so that they encompass a triangular atrium. The buildings appear to stretch out inquisitively in all directions. Both the corridors and the labs have a view of the outside world. The atrium is covered with glass, contains the main staircase and the galleries, and functions as the vibrant centre of the building. Meetings are arranged here and the central traffic circulation takes place on all storeys. Coffee rooms containing bar furniture are situated at the extremities of the arms of the cross. The scientists can meet one another informally here and exchange information. Each coffee room looks out in a different direction. As a consequence of the construction form, each wing has its own atmosphere, incidence of light and surroundings. This is reinforced by the different layouts of the exterior spaces. There is a parking zone, and garden with a rolling landscape, a flowering garden, and a sunken patio clad in stone.