Foster+Partners has designed ICÔNE, a 18,800 square-meter office complex in Beval, a neighbourhood in south-western Luxembourg. The project has been created to be as flexible as possible so that it could be able to adapt to future tendencies for safe working environments.
Designed in collaboration with local practice Beiler Francois Fritsch, the office building reinterprets the local heritage and regenerates the surrounding area.
Located around the urban street and civic plaza, the entrances of the structure are directly linked to the context. Along Porte de France the building contains shops, while the Place de l’Académie’s facade is complemented by cafés and restaurants on the ground floor.
Filled with light and greenery, the office building is composed of two wings around a central atrium. This configuration aims to encourage a spirit of co-creation and collaboration. The structure is wrapped by an orthogonal facade and roof, unifying the industrial look and emphasizing the structural grid. Fluid interior spaces contrast with the inflexible and formal exterior look. The level changes between the street and the plaza are resolved by the atrium through a series of stepped terraces.
“The project is designed to have open, flexible workspaces that respond to the emerging models of work today. The atrium is a green light-filled space that is very much the social heart of the project, providing visual connectivity and a dynamic atmosphere for both work and play. Biophilia, the green landscaping, natural ventilation and visual connectivity all promoting collaboration and healthy wellbeing.”, explained Foster + Partners.
The design aims for a BREEAM excellent rating and WELL building standard certification and the building introduces active and passive sustainability measures. “The facade is both structural and environmentally responsive, providing an integrated solution which allows for internal column-free office spaces as well as solar shading and maximized internal daylight”.
https://www.archdaily.com/940786/foster-plus-partners-designs-icone-a-new-office-complex-in-belval-luxembourg?ad_medium=widget&ad_name=architecture-news-article-show#
https://www.designboom.com/architecture/foster-partners-icone-office-complex-luxembourg-06-01-2020/