Outline Concept
“The architectural concept originates from the Market Hall treated as a found object in the center of the composition, framed by water retention ponds and large transparent glass roofs that gently slope towards it.

The Market Hall is surrounded by office buildings and social facilities to the south, the Congress Hall and the future office growth module to the north. The office complex is formed of low-rise buildings on which stand three mid-rise office towers. The towers emerge from under a clear transparent glass roof, a European umbrella that covers a large part of the site.

The office buildings are placed in a series of gardens covered by the transparent roof and enclosed by a glass fence which moves in and out blurring the line between the ECB and the outside world.

The public entrance of the ECB is through the existing openings at the western end of the Market Hall. The western portion of the Hall contains a reception area and exhibition spaces. From this large public space visitors see the volume of the Conference Center located at the eastern end. The public zone ends where a large opening has been cut through the Market Hall in the north-south direction.

The Congress Hall is located north of the Market Hall, creating an architectural dialogue between the old rectangular hall and the new shaped building clad in metal.

The office buildings are organised around a pedestrian and multifunctional street that visually extends the city grid. A pedestrian plaza connects this street to the Market Hall and the heart of the ECB. The typical tower floor plan has three office wings organised around a central core. The wings are proportioned to create smaller scale office zones and oriented to provide views of the river. North-facing meeting rooms (Forum) are located in front of the elevators at the crossroads of the internal circulation paths to promote communication.”