The company headquarters of Markas in St. Pölten by feld72

The Viennese studio feld72 has completed the administrative center for the company Markas, which specializes in technical building equipment, on the outskirts of the industrial area in Sankt Pölten, Austria. The headquarters for fifty employees is designed by the architects to create a 'small paradise garden' in an uninviting industrial environment, which is facilitated by two inner courtyards cut into the square floor plan of the building. Both courtyards are located at the ground floor level and extend from the lower parking area to the office floor above it. In addition to the inner courtyards, the floor plan is further articulated by deep notches dividing the linear facade into multiple parts. The suspended facade is meant to be a metaphor for the field in which the company operates – building service and maintenance. The individual pixels and reflective glass surfaces also serve to break the facade into smaller sections. The glass facade appears light and transparent during the day. At night, on the other hand, the facade recedes into the background and the 'serpentine' windows illuminate. Each facade pixel features a range of five different shades of glass transparency, ranging from a non-reflective matte finish to a reflective glossy surface. The individual glass pixels then faithfully reflect the colors of their surroundings. The abstraction of the facade continues with the absence of any window frames or top and bottom finishes. The abstract glass mosaic thus seems to float freely above the industrial landscape. Inside the building, a bright atmosphere is created, dominated by prominent wooden framing around the windows.