The Biokatalyse at Technical University Graz

Biocatalysis Lab building - Dynamic Facade 2004 Architect: Giselbrecht + Partner ZT GmbH Photos © Paul Ott The basic urban development idea of this project was to carry out an architectonic reorganization of the surrounding buildings and area with the new building. The Biokatalyse is the urban centre of the technical university campus, and with its clear architectural shape, takes the function of a reorganizing intervention. This architectonic and urban design concept is supported and enhanced by the landscaping of the site. The openess of the entrance areas, in combination with the ground floor, highlights the functional and architectural co-operation with the existing chemistry and biochemistry buildings. The southern facade is entirely glazed, screened by folding, external sunshading elements, while bands of fenestration give structure to the northern facade. The colour and structure of these folding elements, constructed of perforated aluminium, as a dynamic facade element symbolize the continual repositioning of current scientific research. The changeabililty and the colourfullness of these elements give the facade a playful nature which is constantly redefined. The colour on the outside is continued on the inside with the service boxes, which contain sanitation and auxillary spaces, and give each research platform an identity with its own individual colour. Arch. DI Ernst Giselbrecht (Translation: Mag. Pia Namwar) BIOCATALYSIS AT TECHNICAL UNIV. GRAZ Location: Petersgasse, 8010 Graz Client: Bundes Immobilien Gesellschaft (BIG) Architect: DI Ernst Giselbrecht Brockmanngasse 48 A-8010 Graz Tel: 0316 / 817050 Fax: 0316 / 817050-9 Project team: Ing. Johannes Eisenberger, DI Gerald Bruckbauer, DI Bernd Federspiel (Competition) Technical consultants: Structural: Rinderer & Partner ZT KEG, 8010 Graz Mechanical services: Planungsgruppe Grünbichler, 8605 Kapfenberg Electrical: Planungsgruppe Grünbichler, 8605 Kapfenberg Construction physics: Rosenfelder & Höfler Consulting, 8010 Graz Landscaping: Büro ko a la, 8010 Graz Contractors: Main contractor: Strabag, 8042 Graz Facade / Metalwork: Stoppacher, 8160 Weiz Metalwork: Heidenbauer, 8600 Bruck/Mur Precast concrete works: Vollmann, 8403 Lebring Carpenter: Unterwaditzer, 9771 Berg Competition: March 2002 (1st Prize) Design & documentation: Spring 2002 - Autumn 2003 Start of construction: January 2003 Completion: March 2004 Technical data: Net area: 3.270 m² Total floor area: 4.420 m² Cubage: 16.250 m³ Project description: 6-story building for research, laboratories and offices, for biochemical, biocatalytic, microbiological, molecular-biological and gentechnical research/studies; Structural work: reinforced concrete frame structure with basement in massive construction; pile foundation; Facades: aluminium-glass facade respectively prefabricated concrete elements; on the south-facing side the glazed facade is shaded and protected from view by folding elements made of perforated aluminium; Technology: primary heating and cooling via concrete core activation, secondary heating and cooling via ventilation system Costs: Building costs: 4,05 Mio. Euro net. Construction costs: 6,20 Mio. Euro net. Publications: · Architektur Aktuell Nr. 297, Dec. 2004 · Intelligente Architektur, Ausgabe 48-49, Oct.-Dec. 2004 · AW Architektur+Wettbewerbe 201, March 2005 · 04/05/ jahrbuch.architektur.HDA.graz, 2005, ISBN 3-901174-58-3 · Premio Biennale Internazionale Di Architettura Barbara Cappochin - Edizione 2005, Federico Motta Editore, 2005 · Oris - Magazine for architecture and culture, Vol. VII, Heft Nr. 39, July 2006 · 1000x European Architecture, Verlagshaus Braun, Berlin, 2006, ISBN 978-3-938780-10-X · best architects 07, zinnobergruen gmbh, 2006, ISBN 978-3-9811174-0-0 · Of Arch / Magazine for architecture and design, Heft Nr. 95, March/April 2007 · L’Industria Italiana del Cemento, Heft Nr. 836/2007 · Science Spaces, daab-Verlag Köln, 2007, ISBN 978-3-86654-031-6 · Modulo, Heft Nr. 339/2008 · Details, No. 09, May 2008 Prizes, Awards: · Austrian Aluminium Architecture Award 2004 · best architects 07 · 3rd Prize International Award „Colour: a material for architecture“ (Faenza Editrice) 2007 · 2nd Prize Award “Mehr Farbe wagen” (Stern/Schwäbisch Hall) 2007