Page 103 - AIT0420_E-Paper

Abb.: Der hl. Hieronymus im Gehäuse, Antonello da Messina, 1474, Öl auf Holz, 46 ×36,5 cm, National Gallery, London
Entwurf • Design Threefold Architects, UK-London
Bauherr • Client Airbnb, UK-Clerkenwell
Standort • Location UK-Clerkenwell
Nutzfläche • Floor space 650 m 2
Fotos • Photos Donald Murphy, IE-Dublin
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More information on page 150

THE SOA AND THE FORA

IN LONDON

In antiquity, the stoa – a teaching building with a covered
walkway – became the hub of the agora, the most im-
portant market of Athens. With the completion of the
third workspace for the Airbnb team in Clerkenwell, in-
dividual elements of this architecture are now becoming
part of a digital marketplace by defining exciting spaces
– a forum – for the provider of the online platform.
Konzept: Antike Stoa • Concept: Antiquity Stoa Bürokonzept: The Stoa and the Fora • Office Concept

T he famous Renaissance painting Saint Jerome in His Study from
1474 by the Italian artist Antonello da Messina is the pioneering
work of the well-known type of the studiolo – a skilfully and practi-
cally designed study. This was reason enough for Matt Driscoll from
Threefold Architects to take his inspiration from this painting when
the task was to design inventive and flexible office premises for
Airbnb in the north of London. Based on the work of art, the architects
created a striking, walkable volume in the form of arcades which di-
vide the office surface into zones without enclosing them and are in-
tended to have an inspiring effect on creative working. The freestan-
ding sculpture of massive profiles consisting of Douglas fir can be
used from both sides and – equipped with standing-up workstations,
seating niches and lockers – refers to the historic building components
of a stoa. The latter’s portico was formerly the connection between
the central, public hustle and bustle and the adjacent area for study-
ing – as it is represented in Messina’s complex painting. In the offices,
the passage also functions as a link: Here between communication-
promoting workstations and quiet meeting rooms. Contrary to the
classic structure of a stoa, however, due to the centrally positioned ac-
cess to the building, the architects decided in favour of a contrary di-
vision into zones and framed the inner core including the areas for re-
treating with the portico on three side whereas the communication
zones are arranged along the exterior side of the passage. The resem-
blance to columns is achieved by the curved sinus shape and, besides
the fluted surface, strengthens the reference to their antique model.
The fluting – originally supporting the rising, monolithic look of the co-
lumns – here serves the refraction of sound in the open-plan office in
many ways. Beyond the central room within a room motif, Threefold
Architects allowed additional details to be transferred from Messina’s
painting into reality: The desk of the protagonist has a modern coun-
terpart in the linear office furnishing just as much as the subtle shades
Grundriss • Floor plan of green and brown on the walls and the installations.

AIT 4.2020 • 103