264ARH
New Hotel Aarauerhof Building, Aarau
Commissioned Study
Client: ZFV-Unternehmungen, Zurich
Competition: 2018
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In terms of urban space, the positioning of the new Hotel Aarauerhof building has been developed as a solitary figure on Bahnhofplatz [the square in front of the train station], which itself is part of the boulevard called Bahnhofstrasse. Connected to Bahnhofstrasse and relating to the train station, the new building accommodates the parallel movements of the street and the train station and swings out in an east-west direction on Bahnhofplatz. The planar façades toward the street and the train station relate thematically to horizontal movement and the homogeneous white-hued concrete surface represents a pendulum dynamic, while as transparent and translucent elements, the two façades at Bahnhofplatz create a fitting depth. The various usage – congress halls, hotel rooms and apartments – oscillates above this ground floor, supported by an intelligently developed load-bearing structure that makes an impressive overhang possible in a seemingly effortless way, especially toward the bus station. The result is an iconic building developed from the context, which prominently occupies the square, radiates self-awareness of its importance for the location, and clearly communicates the character of a congress building to the public!