modus architects wraps damiani holz & ko office in waving wood fins

modus architects wraps damiani holz & ko office HQ in waving wood fins
photos by günther wett, leonhard angerer, matteo scagnol
all images courtesy of modus architects

for the renovation and expansion of a timber construction company’s headquarters in bressanone, italy, modus architects has conceived a facility which showcases a variety of uses for wood in space making and surface treatment. the most distinguishing of these is a façade system of vertical plywood fins, whose profiles sequentially alter to create an overall dynamic visual condition wrapping the simple cubic form. the waving louvers function to shade the structure’s envelope, containing many windows, and include breaks in their geometry for pronounced views. the building is bound on one side by a primary road, while otherwise surrounded by a work yard on and other office facilities.

plywood louvers create an undulating pattern on the simple cubic volume

the design studio, led by architects sandy attia and matteo scagnol, received the project commission based on a winning competition entry. the scheme reflects the company’s identity and operations, while also serving as an example for many structural and aesthetic uses for wood in building.

the ground level is split with two entrances and floor heights. the first opens towards the street and features a striking weathered metal frame, while the other drops two meters to connect with the work yard on the opposite side. the four-story office sits upon a concrete base, and is organized with three above grade floors and a basement.

a weathered steel frame pronounces the street side entry

the facility’s ceilings are consistently finished with wood, in a variety of different treatments. for example, the street entry features undulating fins, while the back lobby utilizes plywood panels with patterns milled into their surfaces. the upper levels utilize contrasting arrangements of lumber floor framing, including standard orthogonal arrangement and honeycomb patterning.

the façade geometry is interrupted by bold windows for interior viewpoints

the office building is surrounded by the lumber company’s stock yard

various ceiling treatments showcase different uses for wood

(left): a view upward in the stairwell features different floor framing patterns
(right): the wood volume sits upon a concrete base, with a driveway leads to the building’s basement

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project info:

location: bressanone, bolzano, italy
dates: 2008-2012
building volume: 7,940  cbm
cost: 2,400,000 euro
designers: sandy attia e matteo scagnol / modus architects
collaborators: angela ferrari, michael fissneider, volkmar schultz
photography: günther wett, leonhard angerer, matteo scagnol