WTO TEXT

UN-LOCATED EXPANSION WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) (INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, GINEBRA 2002) Architect: Enrique Browne Collaborator Architects: Andrés Frávega, Davor Pavlovic, Daniela Gacic Models: Verónica Celedón Site Area: 2.347 m2. Constructed Area: 11.058 m2. Project date: 2003

The un-llocated expansion of WTO, by not having nor physical or visual continuaity with the existing building, liberates it of normal commitments with the headquarters. The context of each is very different. The headquarters is in a park, which borders a lake. The expansion is next to railway lines. As such, it was considered that the annex should have its own formal identity in tune with its hard, dirty and noisy surrounding. To insulate the noise, the entire exterior has a protecting wall of 80 cm thick. It has a concrete structure with infill of thermal and acoustical insulating panels. It is lined externally with old wood blocks (26 x 16 x 2,60), which avoid electromagnetic disturbances. These are crossed by reutilised rails, which cover joints and serve for the lighting and to place letters or logos. The walls mass would reduce the noise from 67 dB to a recommended level below 40 dB. The windows do not exceed 22% of the facade surface, avoiding the vibration noise transfer. The foundations would have absorbers. The protecting wall is visible from the trains and from the adjacent bridge. To a certain extend, the wall is a mirror of the railway landscape. But includes the hope of its own ecological regeneration. The upper trees and the climbing plants will progressively green up this artificial environment. Signs colouring the windows and nighttime lighting enliven the facades. Its appearance would not be immutable, but in transformation. The expansion has a fifth facade in its roof garden, which organically group the Resource Organ Offices. Given its level, it has views towards the lake. These offices are connected by special elevator with three meeting rooms in the basement of the building. In the intermediate floors (3 to 8) are the WTO offices. The interior contained in between the protecting wall and the roof-garden, conforms a pleasant oasis of silence and of quality of life. It has two tall atriums for resting and circulation, plus another two long work volumes. The atriums, some 60 m long, are tree planted and crossed by bridges. These are “social connectors” with cafes and other equipment. These have natural skylight. By opening the upper windows and the ones at the ends, a “chimney effect” is created. The warm and polluted air rises and exits. This natural ventilation reduces the air conditioning costs. The long volumes break up in order to focus the atriums towards the end windows. Towards the atrium the offices are in glass, reflecting natural light. These have operable windows. All the interior floors are connected by ramps. The main pedestrian access is by square. From the outside one sees the interior of the main atrium. From the square, one descends to the atrium by ramps and moving stairways, where the Auditorium of the resource organ and the cafeteria are located. The square also serves as car access for important visitors.