Söhne & Partner Architekten Wien

united nations

shade and shelter

Wettbewerbsbeitrag zum Security Gate der United Nations in Wien. Aufgabe war es ein neues Zugangsportal zu entwickeln, das einerseits alle zeitgemässen sichertechnischen Aspekte erfüllt, und andererseits einen würdigen Zugangsbereich bildet.  

A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air. In our case the wall in combination with a canopy, to provide shade and shelter, is creating a huge landscaped lobby with ramps and two new spaces - the two entrance boxes - both for screening and scanning people entering the VIC.

A significant gesture, on the one hand this intervention gives the entrance-area more importance on the other hand it gives shelter and security.

The outside lobby (the wall and the canopy) is the first filter entering the VIC, the second filters are the separated entrance-boxes for screening and scanning. The new extension, the two entrances for stuff and visitors are physical detached from the existing building, now linked by a gangway.

Inside - the whole area is an interface between two worlds, between the national austrian and the international world of the VIC. especially in the restaurant the visitors can feel the unique atmosphere of this interface provides by the special interior design.