This project focused on facade patterns in Zürich. The facade compositions seem to be ruled by a grid, which is a great argument to define a pattern. Analyzing more closely, the GAN image deals both with zürichness elements and architectural inventions produced by the GAN. First of all, the Zürich elements can be found in the facade composition which prominently features an architrave in the middle, dividing the building in two parts, and vertically carved pillars which in general seem to have considerable mass. The architectural inventions of the design involved highlighting the dancing movement of the pillars and addressed the crucial point of intersection between verticals and horizontals. The GAN image proposes a diversity of solutions, some of which are derived from the 45 degree rotated architrave. Lastly, the grid is not straight and the architraves are shifted, which will have consequences for the design.
To translate the GAN image in spatial elements, a catalog of the intersections between verticals and horizontals was designed to compose the facade, mixing the rotated architraves, the shifted position of them (i.e. the slab) and the evolving section of the pillars. Of course, the facade can be designed in many ways, but in this case, the facade and the internal typology are closely linked together. In fact, the pillar section will be defined by the inside spaces, depending on the privacy it needs, and the rotated architraves develop themselves inside to create auxiliary places. Moreover, the thickness of the pillars allowed to void them in order to integrate storage space. Therefore the facade takes part in the life of the inhabitants.
The design also addresses the new domesticity in life post 2020, shown by its spatial flexibility. For example, hollow pillars are used as storage space in order to reduce the furniture needs, leading to a gain in living space. Another example is how the architraves are used to create new places to sit, to lay, etc. along the facade. The presented typology starts with a Kindergarten at the ground floor and then the building divides itself in two parts, composed of two duplexes, one on top of the other addressed to young families, and the last floor is common for the residence and external varied activities. The use of big blocks of rough stone is an accurate choice to bring monumentality to the facade, according to the GAN image as well as the prominent site along the Limmat.