The demands of the project brief were considerable. The site was located within protected woodlands, which meant strict restrictions on the size of the building footprint. The design concept elevates the bulk of the building above the ground plane by way of concrete 'mega-trusses' enabling a dramatic cantilevered structure. This minimizes the ground floor footprint while also taking advantage of the prime natural views into the landscape beyond.
Our team worked closely with Eric Halter, a structural engineer at AHW, on the design of the custom concrete truss beam which made our design possible.
Expressive concrete beams enable the dramatic thireen-metre cantilever. A parametric optimizing program called Softkill removes redundant concrete, enabling the design of the slimmest possible concrete truss beam.
The beam is a both structure and facade that presents a memorable first impression for the visitor. The great overhang is a dramatic threshold, providing shelter and protection from the elements, while the privacy of the main offices can be maintained above.
The unique beam structure lends character to the interior spaces, with extensive views of the surrounding landscape. The large spans allow flexible design of the individual offices, unimpeded by a typical column grid structure.
The design incorporates numerous sustainable design strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of the building, including:
