In the city of Rheinfelden near Basel, approximately 600 million euros have been invested in new industrial and residential areas. The site of a real construction boom is in the western part of the city, where several buildings of the new B15 Service Center were built on the outskirts of a culturally and economically growing quarter. The Center, along with other firms, accommodates the new office of the Vogel Architectin architectural bureau, which is responsible for the design and construction.
Vibrant clinker architecture style
The bright style of clinker architecture of the new building of the complex, located at the intersection of Baslerstrasse and Quellenstrasse streets, immediately catches the eye. The ensemble consists of three, different in size and alternately from two- to three-story buildings, grouped around a central courtyard and forming an open area at the representative entrance in the direction of the renewed circular traffic. In the inner area of the building, on an area of over 8000 square meters, there are 25 enterprises of various professional profiles. An innovative open system that facilitates communication, an underground garage and additional features such as a restaurant, fitness center, kindergarten and cultural space create a pleasant, cozy atmosphere and keep the Service Center alive after work. In addition, the tenants of the B15 Service Center have a multi-functional room for presentations or other events.
Piazza in Mediterranean style
From the courtyard, the building complex appears to the eyes of visitors more introverted than from the outside: here, as an urban oasis, a piazza (a square in the form of a rectangle stretching from south to north), decorated in a Mediterranean style, was built here. High sections of the building cover the courtyard from the street, while the section below allows optimal sunlight to pass through. The inner courtyard not only serves as a place for stay and relaxation, but also serves as the basis for a new concept of communication. Along with the courtyard approaches to the first floor of the building, large-scale covered galleries were integrated to open the upper floors. “Covered galleries not only provide access to the outside of the building's interior, but also facilitate the visual and physical communication of company employees, so that synergy can be used more consciously and effectively” - this is how architect Rudolf Vogel describes the concept of the project.
In order to ensure long-term low-cost maintenance of the building and at the same time emphasize the independence and independence of the new Service Center in its surroundings, the construction of the complex was carried out continuously by the method of two-layer brickwork, with an insulating layer inside. Together with other measures to reduce energy consumption, the architects managed to avoid problems and comply with the standard requirements corresponding to the German KfW40 standard. In addition, the clinker brickwork of the façade allows a parallel to be drawn to the neighboring Feldschlöschen beer hall, the most famous building in Rheinfelden, representing the "jewel" of eclecticism - the direction of industrial brick architecture of the early 20th century.
Clinker with light seams
The color scheme of the building is based on the architects' concept, developed in collaboration with the artist Ettore Antonini, covering both outdoor areas and public interiors. According to this concept, the masonry areas of the external facades were formed with the use of blue and motley clinker of the normal format, and for the facing of the facades overlooking the courtyard, the architects chose the matching ruby red fiber-cement panels.
In addition to approximately 100,000 clinkers in normal format with dimensions of 240x115x71 mm, in accordance with the detailed construction plan, blanks for window lintels and the necessary steel fasteners were used. And the result can be truly proud: the clinker with light seams, laid in the spoon method, emphasizes with its powerful optics the high-value character of modern architecture with its large window areas with elegant details and is immediately striking thanks to the successful architectural solution.
According to Rudolf Vogel - “The clinker façade of different colors not only sets important design accents in combination with an exciting color concept, but it can also be considered an analogue to the general concept of the superstructure - to create a harmonious and attractive overall picture from heterogeneous parts”.
Brick collections with color schemes according to the project: Amsterdam facing bricks.
Text and photos are provided by Kirill.
