Steven Holl Architects and Lucerne-based Rüssli Architekten won the competition for the design of the administrative building of the international humanitarian organization Médecins sans Frontières. The complex for 250 employees will appear in Geneva, its employees will oversee the activities of the organization's branches in 23 countries. Construction of the center should begin in the spring of 2019.
The building is formed by cubic volumes; according to the authors, this solution will allow to expand the building area in the future. For facades, it is proposed to use colored photovoltaic glass with varying degrees of light transmission. Firstly, it is beautiful, and secondly, the shade that colored surfaces give allows you to cool the building at no extra cost. But most importantly: the translucent facade works like a solar battery. In the roof garden, the architects propose to install more powerful photovoltaic panels. The combination of these two types of modules will help the office center to cover about 72% of the electricity costs. The authors gave the project the name Colors of Humanity, which can be translated simultaneously as "Colors of Humanism" and "Colors of Humanity".
To create a friendly atmosphere and encourage spontaneous communication between employees, intersecting corridor routes, alcoves with sofas and other points of attraction have been invented. “These centers serve as a catalyst for interaction, they work as social condensers within the building,” -
explains Stephen Hall. The plan includes workstations, meeting rooms, classrooms, and lounges.
