Outline Concept
“The New ECB Premises are divided into three functionally separate parts. Press, conference and visitor facilities are located in the Grossmarkthalle. Social and sports facilities along with some supporting offices are located in the end wings of the building and the main operational facilities and secondary spaces are located in the new building volumes.

The central services and library are located between the old Grossmarkthalle and the new buildings. A glass courtyard is located between the new building volumes, enclosing sloped, sunken restaurant finished in wood panelling. The restaurant also serves as a ‚stage‘ for public events and displays. The view from the courtyard opens out onto the river.

A new glass volume is built inside the Grossmarkthalle. Natural light, flooding in from the large windows, and the internal façades of the old building are reflected off the glass surfaces, achieving a light, subtle character. The glass walls of the meeting rooms are equipped with electronic dimmers allowing the walls to be either completely clear or opaque according to need.

A typical office floor plan comprises two office zones with a centralised communicative forum and elevator shafts located in between.

The site is also bounded by low stonewalls, which prevent unnecessary traffic entering the site while allowing the site to open out into the surrounding cityscape.

The site is articulated by low, approximately thirty centimetres high, dark grey stone walls, embedded in surrounding lawns. The walls are illuminated by sunken up-lights, creating a strong visual element on the site that extends beyond the riverside promenade to the riverbank. The stonewalls on the site reinforce the main building mass composition and vice versa.”