An ecological model
2009/11/09
An ecologically optimized building with high-quality architecture? For a long time, this ideal combination of form, function and ecology seemed impossible for architects. But the headquarters of Merck Serono in Geneva proves that it is achievable – with fascinating architecture and an ecological system.
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Lake Geneva is an important source of energy for Merck Serono
Lake Geneva is an important source of energy for Merck Serono
A slight scent of beeswax lingers in the air. The visitor is surprised. After all, glass and steel dominate the entrance hall of the headquarters of Merck Serono in Geneva. Are his senses deceiving him? No. He immediately catches sight of an area measuring 400 square meters that is made up of beeswax elements. The “Layers of Life” installation was designed and commissioned by Cologne based ag4 media facade GmbH, and realized by the artist Mic Enneper also from Cologne. It weighs 1.4 tons and stretches over five floors, portraying human DNA in abstract form.
Welcome to the new headquarters of Merck Serono! It extends across an area measuring 45,000 square meters. Eight buildings accommodate 1,500 employees at the pharmaceutical company. They research, develop and market innovative medication to help patients suffering from illnesses with high therapeutic requirements.
Welcome to the new headquarters of Merck Serono! It extends across an area measuring 45,000 square meters. Eight buildings accommodate 1,500 employees at the pharmaceutical company. They research, develop and market innovative medication to help patients suffering from illnesses with high therapeutic requirements.
The new buildings reflect innovations
In 2006, all departments previously located in two different buildings in Geneva were brought together at the company’s new site not far from Lake Geneva.
The architecture firm Murphy/Jahn from Chicago was responsible for the new building. Their projects include the Sony Center in Berlin and the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels. The architects wanted to transform the company’s aims into a structural substance. “Thus, for the new building, a creative approach was selected that reflects the company’s innovative drive,” explains Isabelle De Pauw, Environment, Health and Safety Coordinator at Merck Serono.
© Merck
The listed buildings (in the foreground) were integrated into the overall concept by the architects
The listed buildings (in the foreground) were integrated into the overall concept by the architects
The architects were also faced with three buildings from the 19th century, that were protected and thus had to be integrated into the new construction. They integrated the old and new structures into a campus with a completely original and dynamic character.
The main building, a symbiosis of steel and glass, is its central element. It combines administrative and research sections. Areas, equipped with lounges, encourage interdisciplinary debate. Lively discussions can be observed here – over coffee, salad or ice cream. Under the glass roof, which is opened when the weather is nice, sun shades and trees create the feeling of a street café. The names of the surrounding canteens fit in well: “Time-out-Café” and “L’Atelier des Saveurs” (Workshop of Flavors). Thanks to natural light, lighting need only be turned on in winter starting at 4:00 p.m.
The main building, a symbiosis of steel and glass, is its central element. It combines administrative and research sections. Areas, equipped with lounges, encourage interdisciplinary debate. Lively discussions can be observed here – over coffee, salad or ice cream. Under the glass roof, which is opened when the weather is nice, sun shades and trees create the feeling of a street café. The names of the surrounding canteens fit in well: “Time-out-Café” and “L’Atelier des Saveurs” (Workshop of Flavors). Thanks to natural light, lighting need only be turned on in winter starting at 4:00 p.m.
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