The building envelope responds to light, depth and movement—shifting with the viewer and resisting a singular reading. Originally built in 1908 as a shoe factory, the structure becomes a place where past and present overlap and are continuously reinterpreted.
Architectus carefully extends the existing building through precisely placed volumes. The heritage-listed brick structure remains as a carrier of memory, while the additions introduce new spatial continuities. The result is a layered environment for performance, training and public life—open, permeable and atmospherically charged.
OKALUX insulating glass with OKATECH Mandarin plays a key role in shaping the façade. A finely woven, brass-toned textile layer is integrated within the cavity, combining technical performance with a distinct visual quality. It supports glare control and reduces solar heat gain while giving the building envelope a warm metallic appearance. As light conditions and viewing angles change, the layer shifts between transparency and reflection, creating a subtle, dynamic façade expression.
At the same time, the glazing meets precise technical demands and contributes to a high level of interior comfort. This balance between performance and expression is reflected in the overall concept, recognised with a WELL Certification at Platinum level.
The new volumes are set back from the historic structure, forming a central promenade—an urban in-between space that opens the complex to its surroundings. A dialogue emerges between old and new, mass and lightness, built form and lived movement.
