Azienda Elettrica Ticinese Headquarters in Monte Carasso, Switzerland by Dario Franchini

Article source: DF

AZIENDA ELETTRICA TICINESE – NEW HEADQUARTERS COMPETITION – 2nd PRIZE

The competition had the goal to create a new representative building for AET, architecturally avant-garde and sustainable, analyzing the future need of the urban area. The project foresaw in two phases: the first with a 3 floors administrative building of 2’000 sqm and a second with a tower of 15’000 cubic meter.

Side View (Images Courtesy Dario Franchini)

• Architect: DF – Dario Franchini
• Name of Project: Azienda Elettrica Ticinese Headquarters
• Location: Monte Carasso, Switzerland
• Client: Azienda Elettrica Ticinese
• Project Year: 2011
• Site Area: 28’750 sqm
• Project Area: 2’000 sqm
• Cost: 14’000’000 $

For the past 30 years on plot there were made  several constructions, in this competition we see  the unique opportunity to give an united image of the administrative quarter. The project foresee two buildings: The first with its three floors completes the alignment of the existing buildings, and fits with the surrounding context . The second will be the future tower, related to the regional scale (Highway, river, valley).

Model 01 (Images Courtesy Dario Franchini)

The shape of the building was made using ecological and sustainable criteria:

1. Sunscreen: we wanted the building to shade itself with his shape: so every floor on the south facades decrease from the top to the bottom with an inclination of 67° (that is the maximum position of the sun in Monte Carasso on the 22^nd of June). Instead all the north facades are flat. To avoid huge cantilevers, the structure follows the inclination of the facades.
2. The decreasing of the volume also allows to reduce the footprints of the building, increasing the permeable surface of the plot. The basement of the building has only the 18 %  of the total volume (very efficient for its cost).
3. The ratio between the structure and the glass it’s calculated to reach a coefficient of Av/Ae near to the 30% which is the perfect ratio between light and heat recovery

Images Courtesy Dario Franchini

From the jury report:

“The urban solution proposed it’s considered by the jury very persuasive. The idea it’s strong and brave: the south area it’s conceived with a quality united system, leaving to the north area a huge free space for the future development. The project suggested to give to the city of Monte Carasso an unitary administrative area, which culminates with a tower, that takes a strong urban connotation.

Interior View (Images Courtesy Dario Franchini)

The two new buildings are integrated as terminal of the existing complex, creating a huge courtyard. The administrative building of the first phase made by wood and with his L shape fits very well in the existing context and with the surrounding. The architectural solution is considered very convincing and stimulating for the future development of the area”

Side View (Images Courtesy Dario Franchini)

Images Courtesy Dario Franchini

Images Courtesy Dario Franchini

Images Courtesy Dario Franchini

Plan 01

Plan 02

Plan 03

Plan 04

Plan 05

Plan 06

Plan 07

Tags: Monte Carasso, Switzerland

Category: Building

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