Project
On the edge of the town center and the landscape, a new police commissariat arranges itself into the uneven green terrain. In the first place, this assignment is approached from a scenic standpoint. We let nature come far onto the site and put a floating disk on top, which reacts to the existing slopes. The landscape itself forms a perimeter with its wadi and green ridges in such a way that this site can become an inviting accommodation for the users. The landscape is further implemented on the upper level with deep notches and patios with green terraces all around, executed in semi-intensive retention roofs.
This clear and inviting architecture offers an answer to the diverse questions concerning the sequencing of a variety of functions, the landscaping and the integration in the landscape, security and privacy. The pronounced horizontal character of the rather low building provides an optimal integration into the surroundings and limits the visual impact on the surrounding area. The building has a logical internal program, allowing for a sustainable and functional whole.
A police station is a functional machine with a high security level, which accounts for walking distances and a logical workflow. This design conciliates these hard aspects with softer inserts, like cooperation, trust for the civilian, discretion for difficult cases and a feeling of safety for the employee. This building is a puzzle piece within a bigger masterplan, that – once realized – grows into a safety campus with buildings for the fire and police departments and federal justice.
Architectural concepts
Compact volume:
One of the most important demands from the program is a functional and compact volume that forms a basis for an affordable building. Experience tells us that a horizontal arrangement best matches the police operation. Mainly the ground/publicly accessible building layer is quite expansive due to the complexity of the services and functions required to collaborate with each other. The horizontal arrangement of the building also allows the façades to be used in part as a safety perimeter. Consequently, the provision of additional fencing is limited. Considering a good internal cooperation, the number of stories is limited. The result is a massive volume of two stories where two notches on the top level are provided in favor of light incidence. The set back level offers the possibility to implement tall windows and terraces, around which the facade forms a parapet.
Rational structure:
This structure forms the bearer of the compact and functional plan. The proposed concept has a clear orthogonal column structure with a grid size of 8 by 8 meters. The floor contains punching reinforcements, which makes under hanging beams unnecessary. This ensures all technical installations, like air ducts, can be fixed onto the ceiling now and in the future, consequently with height gain. The floor slabs were made of post-tensioned concrete, which severely limited CO2 emissions.
Adaptability:
On the stories, the column structure and the flat ceiling result in a maximally free plan. This way, the spaces are divisible with light acoustical partitions that remain adaptable for future needs.
Future-oriented:
The rational column structure offers options for future extensions. Naturally, an addition can be built against our building, but expansion is also possible within the existing volume: it is possible to fill in the open space on the first floor. Additionally, the columns and foundations are dimensioned for a potential future building layer.
