PRESS RELEASE March 2014 Campus of Vienna University of Economics and Business Library & Learning Centre by Zaha Hadid Student Centre by Hitoshi Abe After a four-year construction phase, the unique campus of Vienna University of Economics and Business was opened in October 2013. At its heart is the new "Library & Learning Centre" (LLC). It was designed by Zaha Hadid. This contemporary university concept in a unique learning landscape is surrounded by gardens. The 28,000 m² LLC was designed as a polygonal block in the centre of the university campus in Vienna. The architecture takes the form of a cube with both angled and straight edges. The straight lines of the outside building divide and become curved and streamlined. They move into a free-form internal canyon, which creates the central auditorium and venue for events at the heart of the university campus. The large overhanging roof is a contrasting element and its front of windows reminiscent of a monitor looks out over the central square. Campus visitors are almost drawn into the new LLC by the "walk-along" park area around it which was planned by BUSarchitektur. Inside the spiral ramps and staircases arranged in all directions lead to the upper levels,where the book stacks and working areas are located. This organic design creates a smooth transition between the various levels. The LLC houses the main library as the centre of study and research, the student working areas of the Learning Centre and the student services, such as the student office, examinations office, academic registry and IT services with its Info Centre. The LLC was fitted with just under 5,800 m² of Poodle self-laying carpet tiles from OBJECT CARPET. The extremely resilient shag pile is particularly suitable for hightraffic areas. Thanks to its distinctive pile height, it is also impossible to see any joins when used as carpet tiles. A further 1,700 m² of Glory carpeting has been laid in the LLC. Both textiles were manufactured with the antron high-tech carpet fibres from Invista, which are characterised in particular by their dirt-resistant and
robust properties. In the special dark and light shades of purple, the floor creates an attractive colour contrast to the predominantly white surfaces of the building. The Poodle textile in dark grey "smoke" underlines the distinctive architectural design. The excellent foot-fall and sound-absorbing properties of the carpets create a low-noise environment. The Student Centre, designed by the architect Hitoshi Abe, forms another complex on the WU campus. The purpose of this complicated academic building is to maximise flexibility and encourage interaction between departments. A series of narrow,overlapping structures has been built in a row and atria for communal use are located in the spaces between them. These are an invitation to linger and meet up with friends and serve as a forecourt for the individual departments. The façades of the buildings based on the puff pastry of a "millefeuille consist of thin layers on top of one another. They not only create an impression of transparency and closeness but also provide visual privacy. 5,350 m² of Glory carpet tiles from OBJECT CARPET were laid in the building. The textile impresses with its shiny metallic effects, which are particularly accentuated by the silver and grey colours used here. The sound-absorbing quality of the textile reduces noise even at high frequency. Project participants Master and open space planning: BUSarchitektur Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects, Hamburg; Hitoshi Abe Studio, Sendai/Japan BUSarchitektur, Vienna; CRABstudio, London; Estudio Carme Pinòs S.L., Barcelona; NO.MAD Arquitectos; Madrid, Vasko + Partner Ingenieure, Vienna General planning: BUSarchitektur & Vasko and Partner Owner: Projektgesellschaft Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien GmbH Client: BIG - Bundes Immobilien Gesellschaft, WU - Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Construction: Lindner GmbH, Baden Austria Carpeting textiles: SL Poodle and SL Glory Carpet fibre: antron carpet fibre OC Field Sales: Martin Hitzinger, Jan Kazich, Frank Zimmermann Photography: Boa - Büro für offensive Aleatorik
Contact: Yvonne Huber yvonne.huber@object-carpet.com Tel: 0711 / 3402-112 Editorial contact: GeSK, Ziegelstr. 29, 10117 Berlin Tel.: +49 (0) 30/217 50 460 Fax: +49 (0) 30/217 50 461, E-Mail: pr@gesk.info www.gesk.info Contact for Photos: BOAnet.at BOA büro für offensive aleatorik Tel: +43 1 403 87 57 Email: office@boanet.at
Image preview: Library & Learning Center of Zaha-Hadid Architects
Image Preview - Students Center of Hitoshi Abe
About OBJECT CARPET - visions become reality Since 1972, OBJECT CARPET has stood for quality, design and innovation in the commercial property sector. The courage to use a variety of colours has always characterised the company and ensured that it quickly became well known among architects. A sense of aesthetics, colour and architecture, in combination with advanced production, is expressed in elegant and unusual designs in the form of rugs, carpet tiles and fitted carpets. With over 1,200 textiles and colours as well as individual customised products, the OBJECT CARPET collection offers a unique variety for modern interiors. Design durable, stylish and manufactured from carefully selected, high-quality raw materials. Characteristics that customers appreciate all over the world, from Google and Microsoft, through Adidas and Marc Cain, to Porsche and Kempinski. Numerous design and business prizes testify to the outstanding design competence and business performance of OBJECT CARPET; it has even been chosen by Ernst & Young as one of the top 50 luxury companies in Germany. With innovative production techniques and sustainable methods of production, OBJECT CARPET moves in new directions and allows visions to become reality. Experience OBJECT CARPET's world of colour and materials in one of the company's eleven showrooms in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. OBJECT CARPET textiles find their way into hotels, shops, offices and living rooms throughout the world through branches in Europe, Australia, America and the Gulf states manufactured by OBJECT CARPET. Made in Germany.