The Swiss are known for many things; harnessing nature, dedication to craft, and functional precision, so when it came time to reimagine a multifunctional building that encompasses all of these things and propels research forward, it only came naturally to turn within..
After two years of construction, Eawag's new multifunctional FLUX building in Dübendorf was completed in Spring 2021. According to Rik Eggen, Deputy Director of Eawag, “the new multifunctional building offers space for teaching, training laboratories, and continuing education courses, among other things.”
What makes the building iconic is the sustainable and functional elements used to renovate the space. First, upon entering the building, a visitor is greeted by the spatial layout of the interior space. The intention was to create more intercommunication between students and faculty, which is a central theme throughout the designs. Next, one will notice the striking aubergine-colored open staircases in the atriums, each having circular openings like portholes to present fluidity and character in the interior. Through deep consultation and evaluation of the natural surroundings, designer Halter AG with the architectural firm Fugazza Steinmann & Partner decided to use organic inspiration and the latest technologies to construct the new spaces. This includes the use of an “innovative laboratory ventilation system that achieves striking energy savings with decentralized combi recirculation air units.”
While the new building is outfitted with energy-saving technologies, it also has become a more modernized version of itself. This building with its many laboratories and complex requirements provides space for open education, research, and meeting to take place. All this comes together in one building. And no matter where you stand inside, inspiration can be drawn from the outside world. A true representation of Swiss appreciation for nature.
Now the new space is suitable for students, workers, and curious minds alike to come together and feel inspired by their surroundings. It’s a space that looks and feels futuristic with clean workspaces and high-tech equipment but it is also closely connected to Switzerland's natural beauty with panoramic views from the glass-paneled windows placed throughout the facility. "We are very pleased that thanks to the FLUX, we will now be able to fulfill our mandate in a spatially secure manner in the future," says Rik Eggen, Deputy Director of Eawag. The future is bright for the students and workers of the FLUX building.
Up next in our Icon series, read about the magnificent Villa Tugendhat in The Czech Republic.