XAL Competence Center
Back to Projects list- Location
- Graz, Austria
- Year
- 2011
- Client
- XAL
The competence center for one of the leading international architectural lighting companies represents a conversion of an existing factory building from the '70s into a unique home base and lighting technology laboratory for pioneering research and development.
The building is organized on three axes, with the two outer ones accommodating the lighting technology laboratories, equipped with cutting-edge technology and open workspaces divided by half-height cabinets. The central axis contains a spacious communication and welcome area for customers and co-workers, meeting rooms, open workspaces, lounge, and recreational facilities. A cafeteria, playground, quiet zones, and a zen-inspired atrium are also included.
The outer face of the building corresponds to a calm, clear aesthetic. Echoing the SEE THE LIGHT leitmotif in the corporate architecture, the facade translates the interplay of light and shade into a barcode. The perforated, trapezoidal, sheet metal facade wraps around the entire construction and traces the silhouette of the formal industrial building behind it. Towards the river, the building opens onto the park-like, outdoor work and communication area, which continues the rigor and clarity of the corporate architecture.