Facade juxtapositions. Novartis Campus Virchow 6, Basel, Switzerland. Architect: Alvaro Siza, 2012.

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the exterior of the building constitutes a series of transparent layers realized by a vast curtain wall facade which is echoed into the interior. this transparency not only leaves the structure’s symbolic form unconventionally ambiguous to novartis standards, but also provides an open interior workspace encouraging collaboration amongst its users. the open floor plan of the interior is organized around two white-marble clad concrete cores, offset from the north-south axis creating a metaphorical criticism of the social issues existing between north and south europe. this radical change isn’t the only disruption: the southeast corner of the building literally juts out almost over the rhine, and the northwest entrance is recessed into a curvilinear courtyard space, both of which make bold statements against the existing orthogonal orders in society and design.

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Photo credit: © Fernando Guerra-VIEW / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2012, 21st, 6, alvaro, architecture, basel, campus, century, clear, commercial, company, corporate, day, europe, exterior, facade, frame, glazing, headquarters, juxtaposition, juxtapositions, metal, novartis, pharmaceutical, research, siza, sky, switzerland, view, virchow