NEXUS office building, Baar (CH)
New building
Client: KIRKBI AG
Location: CH-6340 Baar, Unterfeld
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller Stäheli
Study: 2023
Construction: 2024 – 2026
Area: 11,650 m²
Programme: Offices, canteen
Visualisation: Nightnurse Images AG
Team
Ulrike Bale-Gabriel, Lucas Gaudinet, Elisabeth Graf, Lukas Kral, Lisa Mathoul, Benjamin Michels, Michael Rabl, Julian Roiser, Ilie Stanese, Florian Xander (Project management)
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Partners
Statics: Pirmin Jung Schweiz, Sursee / Wismer + Partner, Rotkreuz
Building services: Amstein + Walthert, Luzern
Electrics: Scherler, Bern
Building physics: Pirmin Jung Schweiz, Sursee
Landscape: Iten Landschaftsarchitekten, Unterägeri
Life cycle assessment: icccon, Zürich
General contractor: Martin Lenz AG, Baar
Flexible working in a wooden office
In the Swiss municipality of Baar, we are constructing the innovative NEXUS office building. The sustainable timber hybrid conserves resources through renewable, reusable materials and a consistent cradle-to-cradle concept with minimal use of reinforced concrete. Recycled concrete is used wherever possible and we prefer to use wood from the region for the timber construction. A sophisticated low-tech system takes care of heating, cooling and ventilation and, together with efficient insulation, reduces consumption during operation and therefore costs over the entire life cycle.
The well thought-out space concept creates an attractive, modern working environment, promotes dialogue and networking and offers maximum flexibility. This allows the building to adapt to its tenants and future developments. The four differently dimensioned wings of the cross-shaped building are freely accessible via four axes. The clear structure with a central access core and circumferential walkway with attractive views allows for easy routing. Plenty of daylight and light-coloured wood as well as large areas of glazing with views out and through create a pleasant working environment. The park around the building and the roof terrace with views as far as the lake invite people to linger.
Wood and glass façade
The exterior of the building is clad with upright, butt-jointed wooden louvres. The façade structure is modelled on the protective roof on the gable of traditional Swiss farmhouses. Generous glass surfaces ensure transparency both outside and inside and provide the offices with plenty of daylight.
Inspiring workspaces
Inside, too, we rely on natural materials that are as untreated as possible. Wooden surfaces in the office wings and exposed concrete in the stairwell centre create a pleasant working environment and high-quality, durable surfaces. The flexible, open structure of the offices and communal areas encourages encounters and communication.
The event room on the 5th floor with direct access to the roof garden offers ideal opportunities for events, short meetings, coffee breaks or informal discussions with colleagues and business partners.
The multifunctional space on the ground floor is used as a canteen with hot food at lunchtime. Outside of lunchtime, this space is transformed into meeting rooms, a boardroom and a conference room.
