At the Swiss headquarters for Hugo Boss a larch wood armature suggests the airy, open spaces within. All photos: Matteo Thun and Klaus Frahm

Architect Matteo Thun is a master designer in the Italian tradition, equally known for his architecture as his product design. In the 80s, he was involved with the Memphis Group, which counted such celebrated designers as Ettore Sottsass and Michael Graves as members of their colorful and kitschy pomo club. Today, Thun’s work is still quite contemporary, albeit less ironically “punchy”, with the designer taking on a more serious agenda. “Architecture means designing the soul of the place,” Thun explained, adding that he maintains his aesthetic curiosity, but tempers it with his concerns for economic and technological sustainability.

Thun’s headquarters for Hugo Boss Industries in Coldrerio, Switzerland, embodies all three principles. Situated amid the lush greenery of Canton Ticino, the transparent, light-filled volume suggests the simplicity and purity of its construction. At three stories, the glass, steel and concrete structure is wrapped in bent, locally-sourced larch wood intended to symbolize the machines behind the clothes brand—the gridded cladding recalls the form of a loom. Read on.

The durable larch wood armature protects the building from the elements.

At 14,460 square meters, the building includes public areas, conference rooms, a showroom, and flexible, open offices for 300 people, all centered around a large sun-filled atrium. Automated controls optimize heating and cooling, and light for the vast open spaces. The larch armature, while a lithe wooden lattice in appearance, is in fact quite durable and waterproof, thus artfully protecting the building from the elements.

The firm was charged with a tight schedule, so the project became an exercise in expediency. “To work with a fashion company means speed,” noted Thun. He and his team relied on Vectorworks software to rapidly create and update drawings from conceptual design through to the final set.

In addition to the technical efficiency of the program, Thun remarked how the software helped mold the aesthetics of the project. “Vectorworks is very helpful for the final graphic result. With Vectorworks, we achieve a final presentation that is also very technical,” said Thun. “It immediately makes the proposed styling, materials, and color visible, giving a clear view of the project’s mood.”

Interested in using Vectorworks software for your own projects? Check out their site and check out the newly-launched 2013 version, plus more downloads!

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tagged bim, bird's nest, fabrication, Hugo Boss, loom, Matteo Thun, software, Vectorworks, wood

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