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Studio Valle Progettazioni
Rome, Italy
Tommaso Valle

Outline Concept
”The formal urban organisational generator for the New ECB Premises has been found in the identification of a visual and functional urban-scaled axis, which is established, from Danziger Platz through to the competition site and beyond. This axial organiser is recognised and defined in Danziger Platz through its physical expression as a dense orchard of large trees through which, an important diagonal cut has been made. This organisational axis then proceeds down from Danziger Platz as a double row of trees that lines Hanauer Landstrasse and concludes in front of the elliptical traffic plaza located directly in front of the Main Entrance to the New ECB Premises. The selection of this particular diagonal axis has strongly suggested an urban planning and an architectural design solution that minimises the overall visual impact of the New ECB Premises. In addition, the site organisation takes full advantage of the existing microclimate and prevailing wind directions that are in turn maximised upon for the overall economy and benefit of the competition solution.

Water, which is brought into the composition of the entire project, is used to integrate and soften the impact of the Architecture and characterise the continuity of the principal compositional axes while giving form and structure to the entire riverside park system.

Greenery is utilised along the perimeter edges of the new pedestrian bridges and along both sides of the riverside promenades as well as on the roof gardens and in the winter gardens that make up both ends of the new office buildings.

The diagonal axis, already developed on the opposite side of the Main River adjacent to the Oval Arena, is used and repositioned in the direction of the New ECB Premises. The proposed orientation for the pedestrian-bridge-link between the two riverside promenades is used to frame and focus the viewer’s attention upon the geometrical organisation of the New ECB Premises from both the river and it’s adjacent landscaped parks.”