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AZ-Medien, Commercial and Apartment Building
Bahnhofstrasse 41, Aarau
2001 - 2005
The
AZ-Media Building in Aarau, containing apartments and commercial units
on the ground floor, was designed by the architectural office of Burkhard
Meyer.
Viewed from the Bahnhofstrasse, the building appears like a freestanding volume which blends effortless into the row of existing represantative buildings,
through its sligt contortions. But in the rearward area one recognizes, that the construction directly adjoins the neighboring buildings. Through the public use
on the ground floor and a passage which connects the Bahnhofstrasse with the historic part of the city across the new block to the, the new building
is integrated into the existing urban structure. This spatial permeability underlines the public character of the building and empfasizes the peculiarities of the place.
The newly created connection in the area of the pedestrian passage is visually emphasized by the restriction of the volume reaching over the entire height of the building.
This restriction marks the two-storey passage and articulates the rhythm of the longitudinal elevation. The building represents a two fold design strategy.
On the one hand, the building follows the concept of the slightly altered continuation, and on the other hand, the design works as an explicit juxtaposition.
In urban respect the character of the buildings edging the Bahnhofstrasse is maintained, whereby the total volume integrates into the context,
while at the same time the building is clearly recognizable as a contemporary building through the materialization of the façades.
The façades mainly consist of large vertical panes of glass, while each floor is marked by a concrete line along the ceilings.
Viewed from the Bahnhofstrasse, the building appears like a freestanding volume which blends effortless into the row of existing represantative buildings,
through its sligt contortions. But in the rearward area one recognizes, that the construction directly adjoins the neighboring buildings. Through the public use
on the ground floor and a passage which connects the Bahnhofstrasse with the historic part of the city across the new block to the, the new building
is integrated into the existing urban structure. This spatial permeability underlines the public character of the building and empfasizes the peculiarities of the place.
The newly created connection in the area of the pedestrian passage is visually emphasized by the restriction of the volume reaching over the entire height of the building.
This restriction marks the two-storey passage and articulates the rhythm of the longitudinal elevation. The building represents a two fold design strategy.
On the one hand, the building follows the concept of the slightly altered continuation, and on the other hand, the design works as an explicit juxtaposition.
In urban respect the character of the buildings edging the Bahnhofstrasse is maintained, whereby the total volume integrates into the context,
while at the same time the building is clearly recognizable as a contemporary building through the materialization of the façades.
The façades mainly consist of large vertical panes of glass, while each floor is marked by a concrete line along the ceilings.