Sebastian Spengler
IDI CHICAGO, INTERNATIONAL DESIGN INSTITUTE. RWTH Aachen (Germany)
The IDI understands itself as world-wide leading education facility and cooperates closely with enterprises of the economy. The proximity to the public is considered as important criterion for the acceptance of new products.
The site is in Downtown Chicago. The surrounding area is raised by eight meters. The building volume is let into the existing outline and thus works as connecting element of the two existing levels. The building is arranged horizontally to differ from the strong vertically arranged surrounding.
The process of designing is an interrelation between individual work and exchange of information between students, teachers and economic representatives. The +1 level is designed as communication and information level and works as contact area between design and user. From the outside it is readable as a horizontal cut in the building and serves as contact surface to the city. At night parts of the facade can be switched translucent by the use of private-lite glass and can be used as projection screen.
The levels +2 and +3 contain the private workspaces.
The facade consists of two layers:
Layer 1
- Controllable frameless white glass lamellas
- The control can either be made individually or by computer (related to the climate)
- Control of climate, noise and light
Layer 2
- Double glazing with included blinds
- Elements can be used as sliding doors
The building is covered with a shimmery skin that constantly changes by climatic influences or by actions of the users. The slab edges are covered with aluminum and make the horizontal structure readable from the outside. The variability of the facade lets the building interact with the urban space – a communicative structure, which makes the design process transparent and allows views from different points.
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