The building stands on a site made available by the Parma City Council, a triangle delimited by access roads, an inner ring-road and railway lines. The architecture directly addresses these contextual elements, evoking an imposing institutional building whose three facades are monumental in scale and announce a powerful new presence within Parma's urban landscape.
in partnership with STUDIO VALLE PROGETTAZIONI (IT)
In Brussels’ European Quarter, the needs of the EU’s institutions mean that many buildings have to be renovated and new ones constructed. There, adjacent to the Parc Léopold and also bordered by the six-lane rue Belliard, this office building constructed between 1980 and 1988 had to be adapted to meet current regulations, as well as a better work environment. Initially designed for the European Parliament, the building was renovated to accommodate the offices, conference centre, meeting rooms, cafeterias and restaurants of the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
In this case the clear identification of the occupant enabled the architects to draw on the image and prestige of the institution, at the same time providing optimal, day-to-day functionality. Six building sections were erected under the large iconic roofline, with the atria and gardens between them. Designed to be a living and communication space as well as a place of work, the structure includes offices, conference rooms, cafeteria, bar, print room, archive space and a crèche.
