Location: Ljubljana,
Slovenia
area: 8.900 m2
client: Turboinštitut d.d. type: office
status: concept
year of project: 2009
Building
is located next to a 1950s turbine factory on the outskirts
of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Housing the largest super computer in
the region, it enters surrounding space as a herald of new era
of paradigms - a new centre of very large extent of data, connected
to people and events all around the planet. Converging point
of data becomes a meeting place for people, a spot where 220
people can meet to work and another 220 to exchange information.
Ground floor comprises the reception area with a mediatheque
and a conference hall, while first floor is purposed for smaller
groups' meetings and second floor houses visiting lecturers
and groups. Third and fourth floors encompass the Real Time
Data Visualization system - a 22 by 5 meters display with two
levels of work spaces in front. Next three floors comprise various
workplace schemes, each floor with 40 working places. 8th floor
houses management. The empty volume of 9th and 10th floors will
house the supercomputer. To ensure uninterrupted information
flow in addition to from optical and copper links, satellite
dishes are arranged on the roof terrace above. The solid concrete
base of two underground floors houses parking and technical
areas; from it, the volume rises in a steel spatial mesh. The
floors and outer steel frame form a composite construction,
a system extremely resistant to vertical and horizontal load.
Facade combines panels of heat-efficient glass and metal, with
shading arranged with liquid crystal technology. Thus, shading
can simultaneously act as information medium and the entire
building turns into a transmitter/receiver. The steel spatial
mesh of construction creates a Faraday Cage, preventing electromagnetic
disturbance of information flow.
All spaces are arranged around a central free volume - an atrium
that connects the building into a single organism. The volume
embraces the atrium in a pentagonal shape slightly rotated upwards,
symbolizing a spiral lift. Light enters the volume from above
and from the rim. The whole building is permeated by light,
light is the carrier of optimism which should imbue people and
spread through information flow. Within, the individual is accorded
special attention: a singular work environment is designed for
everyone to communicate through. One is enveloped by a fluid
glass table, soon to house only a single folding OLED screen
while keyboard and mouse become obsolete. Then, the liquid crystal
table itself becomes the medium of information. Next to each
table, a cabinet is retained, a 21-century "steamer trunk" that
becomes the carrier of individuality, the material following
the individual as he circulates through the building moving
between different work groups.
Project was nominated for
the 2010 World Architecture Festival Award.
