Frankfurt, Germany

European Central Bank-frankfurt

Ian+

The contact between the building system of the new ECB site and the town is made possible trough two main plazas; one plaza, enclosed within the area, is covered by water. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic are channelled under this monumental water plaza, hosting the memorial site. The main building will be developed along the river side, in order to preserve the sight of the Grossmarkthall form the town.

The other plaza, external, will be running along the Sonnemannstrasse.

Building systems

The Grossmarkthalle is organized into three parallel strips containing both public and semi-public activities.

One strip links the existing building to the new one and the office system will be developed around patios.

The main building, located on the riverside, is a composition of two thin structures, separated by a central void, visually connected to the city in a dynamic way. This objective is achieved without destroying the historical relationship between the city and the Grossmarkthalle.

According to this scheme, there is an equal hierarchy between solids and voids. The holes (voids) opening on the buildings are intended to become a place for visual contact between the town and working spaces, within the main building.

The arrangement of each building is designed to take advantage of natural phenomenon.

The main building is aligned to seasonal wind flows, and offers different views on the river and the town.

The relationship between the Grossmarkthalle and the surroundings is preserved by these voids present in the main structure.

Physical connection between old and new buildings is provided by a three level living platform.

The main complex is located on the south edge of the site next to the river.

Workplace environment

There are two main workplace types: the box and the open office, each one organized around a particular landscape. The relationship between work and environment is in constant integration and inversion. The horizontal platform is organized around external patios, while the space inside the main building is organized around a vertical void system.

Both these systems follow the same aim: to bring light and natural environment deep into internal space.

Workplace quality

Each workplace is integrated into the landscape with semi-private green areas. Additionally, there are strong visual connections to the city and the surrounding riverfront from the high rise.

Europaconcorsi Beta

European Central Bank-frankfurt