Herzog & de Meuron has completed HORTUS, a pioneering office building in Allschwil, Switzerland, dubbed a “radically sustainable office building”. Designed for tech companies, HORTUS showcases innovative sustainable design and construction techniques. The 5-story, 107,639-square-foot building contains 600 office spaces and is built with a modular timber frame and timber joinery using locally sourced wood.
The building is organized around a green atrium, featuring tall shrubs, grasses, flowering perennials, and climbing plants ideated by Piet Oudolf. A rainwater collection tank is situated below the garden. The structure incorporates compressed clay, cellulose, waste paper, and crushed recycled bricks, minimizing its carbon footprint. Photovoltaic panels generate surplus energy that will offset the office building’s construction after 31 years.
“HORTUS stands for maximum ecological sustainability—the claim can hardly be extended any further,” Stefan Marbach, Senior Partner, Herzog & de Meuron, said. “We transferred the principles of healing architecture to office buildings. The careful consideration of natural materials, light, air quality, the connection to nature via the green inner courtyard, and the promotion of social interaction create an environment that is healthy and inspiring.”
“We need to think anew: Sustainability should be at the forefront of everything we produce—indeed, everything we do,” Jacques Herzog, Herzog & de Meuron, shared. “This will result in unexpected and surprising architecture with a beauty of its own. It is a challenge, but it is also a stimulating incentive, because it questions aesthetic norms and opens up new approaches for us.”
The building’s design prioritizes sustainability, natural materials, and connection to nature, promoting a healthy environment. HORTUS employs the “Lego principle,” allowing for easy disassembly and reuse of elements.
Image Courtesy: archpaper.com
