hitoshi abe adds to vienna university of economics and business campus

hitoshi abe adds to vienna university of economics and business campus
image © designboom

during a recent trip to vienna, designboom visited the city’s university of economics and business campus, featuring the ‘departments and student center’, designed by atelier hitoshi abe. the complex is composed as a series of slender sinuous buildings with interstitial spaces weaving between providing circulation. this arrangement produces a porosity across the site that fosters interaction between the various academic departments of the institution. shared outdoor areas allow places for students, instructors, and administrators to gather and relax, as well as distinguishing entryways. additionally, the separation of structural volumes allows for increased ventilation and daylight potential to the interior environment.

public plazas provide areas for commingling between various academic departments
image © designboom

the façades have a distinctive patterning composed of overlapping horizontal bands which alternate between black and white. the size and proportions of windows is also inconsistent, adding to the dynamic qualities of the elevations.

buildings merge to create varying circulation conditions
image © designboom

image © designboom

window patterning is inconsistent across the curving façades
image © designboom

horizontal bands overlap to produce variation along the elevations
image © designboom

the law + admin buildings, designed by CRAB studio, can be seen in the distance
image © designboom

interior atria are enclosed by glass surfaces
image © designboom

sinuous movement translates to the internal circulation
images © designboom

project info:

location: vienna austria     
collaborators: buro happold
architect of record: vasko + partner ingenieure
clients: wu (vienna university of economics and business), big (bundles immobilien gesellschaft)
size: 225,000 sqf 
use: educational mixed use facility     
completion date: august 2013