168 Helvetia, Extension of Head Office, South and East Wing

Competition: 1989
Project: 1998-1999
Realization: 2000–2002

Process

The existing 1970s building forms a large, sprawling volume on a sloping site.

The cruciform complex fragments the outdoor space. In their 1989 competition design, Herzog & de Meuron remedy this by adding blocks to form inner courtyards.

The old design envisaged four airy glass structures.

Tactile details: turned doorknob, silicone door handles, table legs, tentacle-like lamps.

By day, the office buildings seem to merge with the park, while at night they shine out like huge lanterns.

Separate and open-plan spaces, a canteen renovated in 1970s style and works by Thomas Ruff add distinctive touches.

Team

Partners: Jacques Herzog; Pierre de Meuron
Project Team: Erich Diserens (Associate, Project Architect); Sarosh Anklesaria; Stephan Brunner; Mathias Frey; Anna Fuchs; Reto Oechslin; Patrick Remund

Facts

Client: Helvetia Versicherungen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Planning: General Planning: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland; Architect Planning: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland; Strucural Engineering: Grünenfelder & Lorenz AG, St Gallen, Switzerland; Mechanical Engineering: Thomas Baumgartner, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Electrical Engineering: Bühler + Scherler AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Landscape Design: Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten, Zurich, Switzerland
Specialist / Consulting: Building Physics Consulting: Studer Bauphysik, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Acoustic Consulting: Lienhard Bau- und Raumakustik, Langenbruck, Switzerland; Facade Consulting: Emmer Pfenninger Partner AG, Münchenstein, Switzerland
Building Data: Site Area: 215'278 sqft, 20'000 sqm; Gross floor area (GFA): 46'284 sqft, 4'300 sqm; Number of levels: 5; Footprint: 9'687 sqft, 900 sqm; Gross volume (GV): 670'979 cbft, 19'000 cbm
Links: www.helvetia.com

Bibliography

Gerhard Mack, Herzog & de Meuron: “Herzog & de Meuron 1997-2001. The Complete Works. Volume 4.” Edited by: Gerhard Mack. Basel / Boston / Berlin, Birkhäuser, 2008. Vol. No. 4.

Luis Fernández-Galiano (Ed.): “Arquitectura Viva. Herzog & de Meuron 1978-2007.” 2nd rev. ed. Madrid, Arquitectura Viva, 2007.

Nobuyuki Yoshida (Ed.): “Architecture and Urbanism. Herzog & de Meuron 2002-2006.” Tokyo, A+U Publishing Co., Ltd., 08.2006.

Hubertus Adam: “Gebrochene Wirklichkeit. Herzog & de Meuron. Erweiterung Hauptsitz Helvetia Patria, St. Gallen, 1999-2002.”
In: Verband freierwerbender Schweizer Architekten FSAI (Ed.). “Archithese. Zeitschrift und Schriftenreihe für Architektur. Swiss Performance 03.” Vol. No. 1, Sulgen, Niggli Ltd., 01.2003. pp. 10-15.

Fernando Márquez Cecilia, Richard Levene (Eds.): “El Croquis. Herzog & de Meuron 1998-2002. La Naturaleza del Artificio. The Nature of Artifice.” Vol. No. 109/110, Madrid, El Croquis, 2002.

Wilfried Wang: “Herzog & de Meuron.” 3rd adv. and rev. ed. Basel / Boston / Berlin, Birkhäuser, 1998. (= Studiopaperback).