At first glance the long building with its flatly folded facade looks unlike an office block. It lacks the usual glass facade and double glazed skin. Located south of the centre of this provincial capital, it is distinguished from surrounding housing by its large and lively form. Here and there loggia-like volumes are cut out of its massive volume.
In sculptural terms they reduce the severity of the large structure, while functionally they serve as small outdoor spaces where people can take a break. The external windows appear to be irregularly positioned but the apparently arbitrary layout follows exact geometric rules and corresponds with the office partition walls. This deliberately accidental quality prevents subdivision of the facade, making it seem more like a single flat surface, and strengthens the impression of a large, unified form. The entrance hall penetrates the ground floor at an acute angle, leading to a two-storey front hall spanned by a bridge, followed by the imposing six-storey, glass-roofed courtyard.
The offices are arranged along the facades. Three wings extend from the rump of the building like the arms of a “Y”. Their central zones widen out into a wedge shape containing archives and service spaces. The tall internal courtyard with its irregular outline develops an autonomous power at the centre of the building. The access galleries to the offices are arranged around it. The corridors are interrupted by the internally glazed loggias or expand at certain places. There is a small hall at the end of each wing of the building. The diversity and differentiation of the common areas illustrates a delight in space, and offers those working in the building considerable flexibility in use.
