Wolf D. Prix's firm Coop Himmelb(l)au Wolf D. Prix & Partner has completed a new Customer Information Centre and Event Forum in Austria, which presents itself as a metallic sculptural element combined with two different forms. 

Named Paneum - Wunderkammer des Brotes, the building was designed for the company Backaldrin in Asten, an international leading manufacturer of baking products and the market leader in Austriaand other countries.  

The four-story building consists of two different volumes: a box shaped plinth building with foyer and event rooms plus the "Wunderkammer des Brotes", a two storey freeform exhibition area floating on top. 

Covering a total of 1,850-square-metre area, its exterior envelope doesn't only change on the façade and form, but its interior also features some fluid and surprising spaces to present a deep explorations throughout the floors.

Reaching at 20 meters, although the building seems very compact in its varied dimensions, the chosen materials augment the contrast of these two elements: The square base building shows a cast-in-place concrete façade while the rounded wood structure of the museum is clad with stainless steel shingles.

On the ground floor, the building houses the event rooms and the adjoining rooms. This area can be used for a variety of events as presentations, receptions or workshops for up to 120 visitors.

"The design of the exhibition area is based on the idea of a cabinet of curiosities, a concept for collections originating in the Baroque period," said Coop Himmelb(l)au Wolf D. Prix & Partner.

"This concept is especially appropriate for the unusual and small-scale objects in the collection related to the topic “bread” which are presented in the exhibition area. For the exhibition concept and design Gruppe Gut from Bozen was responsible," added the studio.

A circular atrium forms the centre of the "Wunderkammer des Brotes", in which selected items from the collection are individually suspended from the top, as in a differentiated crystal chandelier. The atrium is enclosed by a spiral stair where visitors can look at the exhibited items from various perspectives. 

The stair provides access to the two exhibition levels, where the objects are presented with the help of walls, tables and cabinets that are integrated into the architecture. Additionally, all floors can be accessed by elevators. The atrium is naturally illuminated from above while the exhibition spaces have artificial light.

The architects use a self-supporting wood shell of the exhibition that makes the structure visible in the interior. It is composed of layered circles of cross laminated timber. 

"This method of construction enables the realization of the free form," added the studio. 

By using the high degree of prefabrication with 3D CNC technology (Computerized Numerical Control), it made the building to be constructed in a short time. Leaving the precisely shaped wood timber exposed on the interior, with just a layer of paint, made additional interior finishes unnecessary.

Coop Himmelb(l)au Wolf D. Prix & Partner is among the shortlist for the Southbank by Beulah competition, including BIG, MVRDV, UNStudio, MAD and OMA. The winner will be announced on August 15, 2018. 

Wolf D. Prix is Honorary Member of World Architecture Community and won the WA Award in the 1st Cycle with Musée Des Confluences in France.

Project facts

Planning: Coop Himmelb(l)au Wolf D. Prix & Partner ZT GmbH
Design Principal / CEO: Wolf D. Prix
Design Partner: Karolin Schmidbaur
Project Lead: Friedrich Hähle, Günther Weber (until 2015)
Project and Design Architect: Stephan Sobl
Project Team: Albara Arab, Martina Bighignoli, Daniel Bolojan, Donna Riedel, Benjamin Schmidt, Damian Witt, Denitsa Parleva, Risa Kagami
Model Building: Win Man, Nam La Chi

Structural Engineering: Wernly+Wischenbart+Partner ZT GmbH
Mechanical/Plumbing Planning: Ing. Grillenberger GmbH & CoKG
Electrical Planning: Hross & Partner GesmbH.
Fire Protection: FireX Greßlehner GmbH
Building Physics: KPPK Ziviltechniker GmbH
Site Supervision: Markon Architecture ZT GmbH
Lighting Design: ag Licht
Wood Construction: WIEHAG GmbH
Thermal Building Simulation: Ingenieurbüro P. Jung GmbH

Exhibition Design: Gruppe Gut Gestaltung OHG
Geotechnik Tauchmann GmbH
Vermessung Schöffmann

Art Installations: vienna arthandling

All images © Markus Pillhofer

All drawings © Coop Himmelb(l)au Wolf D. Prix & Partner

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