The aesthetic Business Stadium Center by Zaha Hadid Architects

All images by Frontop

Approved for construction by The City of Vilnius, Zaha Hadid Architects’ competition winning proposal for a new business center situated within Lithuania’s urban plan and popular Public Square is set to emerge as a new and dynamic gathering hub as construction will start in the second quarter of this year. 

With 24,000 sqm, the Zaha Hadid Architects exclusive design introduced two low-rise towers of 8 and 9 storeys connected at street level by a courtyard atrium, two floors of public amenities, and a skybridge that linked both structures at level five. Both towers will rise with curving façades and stacks of cantilevered balconies standing directly opposite one of the historic landmarks such as Gediminas Castle Tower in the heart of Vilnius. The two connecting low-rise aesthetic structures which are rich in spatial programs, systematically reinterpreted the dynamic geometries of the neighborhood’s existing inventive civic architecture. The Business Stadium Central also has 11,750 sqm of landscaped terraces, roof gardens and plazas that open directly onto the public square designed by Martha Schwartz.

Lined with cafés, restaurants, and shops, its atrium courtyard serves local residents, office workers, and visitors. Besides, the unique elevators that lead to top floors has two public swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and sun decks with panoramic views over Vilnius’ historic Old Town.

As quoted by Designboom website, Zaha Hadid Architects stated that; ‘Business Stadium Central creates a variety of new public spaces and amenities for the city within a design that integrates flexible workplaces encouraging interaction and collaboration together with extensive health and wellness facilities for use by everyone in Vilnius.’ 

With the intention of extending the project’s life-cycle, Zaha Hadid Architects conceptualized an exclusive design that comes with flexible office spaces within the central floors of each tower with maximum adaptability. Unique in size and layout so that it can suit a variety of companies from new start-ups to established international corporations, these workplaces connect with landscaped roof gardens and terraces offering views of the captivating surrounding city.

In line with the Vilnius’ humid climate, the architects chose the idea of annual solar analysis to compose the exterior shell, a series of glazed façades with precisely engineered louvres and balconies that minimize direct sun exposure in summer while maximizing solar heat gain in colder periods. According to Zaha Hadid Architects, as quoted by Designboom website, ‘These external shading devices are aligned with the sun’s lower altitude between October and April of approximately 38 degrees and are perpendicular to the highest position of the sun in Vilnius’ summer sky of 151 degrees.’

High-efficiency heat exchange and recovery systems will excellently reduce energy consumption while double-insulated low-E glazing will provide excellent levels of natural throughout all public spaces and workplaces by using natural hybrid ventilation for most of the year. Proving total comfort internally, as it’s related to the indoors, a timber-based palette creates an ambient warmth while encouraging sustainable building practices. The amount of materials required which are integrated with procurement systems that increase the project’s recycled content have been effectively minimized through digital optimization design processes.

Building materials like timber will be sourced from certified local dealers and it will be included in the project’s overall supply chains an idea that was introduced by Zaha Hadid Aarchitects for the purpose of reducing delivery proximity, as all specified materials are evaluated to enable disassembly and reuse at the end of the building’s operational life.

Project Info:
 

Name: Business Stadium Central 

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Client: Hanner | @hanner_lietuva
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) | @zahahadidarchitects 

Renderings: Frontop 

ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS LEAD TEAM

Lead Designer: Patrik Schumacher


Project Directors: Gianluca Racana, Ludovico Lombardi


Project Associate: Michele Salvi


Design Team: Alessandra Laiso, Giovanni Basile, Ivo Ambrosi, Szu-An Yao


ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS COMPETITION TEAM  

Project Directors: Gianluca Racana, Ludovico Lombardi


Associate: Davide Del Giudic

Project Leads: Alexandra Fisher, Jose Eduardo Navarrete Deza


Design Team: Maria Lagging, Lara Zakhem
 
CONSULTANTS 

Local Architect: Unitectus

Structural Engineering: Ribinis būvis
Façade Engineering: Staticus

MEP: Eva Danovska

Fire Engineering: GSCentras

Source: Deisgnboom website

Edited by MJ | Buildace Magazine