Aspen, Colorado
Harry Teague Architects

Photography © Timothy Hursley

This project is a 5,800 square foot remodel of an existing warehouse space for the offices of a construction company. The design solution is process as product.

In addition to carefully accommodating the functional needs of a no-nonsense, working office, the design intends to show off the skill and quality of the contractor in many diverse materials and also energize the firm with the excitement of the construction process itself.

Throughout the office, elements of the design refer metaphorically and physically to the construction process. A visitor can observe models of projects the company has built through small holes cut in the plywood panels that line the entrance, much as we all have admired the progress of a large urban building through the holes cut in construction barriers. Elsewhere layers peel away to expose construction details normally hidden that are executed with the quality of fine cabinetwork.

The conference room table sits on sawhorse-like legs. The frosted glass walls allow offices to share light from the main space, and expose the craftsmanship of the perfect dovetail joints in its framing. The eight foot wide glass door/wall to the conference room tucks away when not needed but swings effortlessly into position on pivot hinges.

In general the plan and configuration of the office balances the needs for acoustic and occasional visual privacy with the need to unify and inspire a team working on many complex projects at once.

For more on this project please see the October 2001 issue of Architectural Record.

The Winners: Chesapeake Bay | Corning Museum | Dulwich Galllery | Kuhonji Temple Gate | LVMH Tower | Pedestrian Bridge | Phillips Plastics | Saitama Arena | SAP Headquarters | Chiller Plant | Wieden + Kennedy Headquarters

The Finalists: Allegheny Jail | Hansen Construction | Helmut Lang Perfumerie | Herman Miller Showroom | Lincoln St. Garage | TBWA/Chiat/Day | U.S. Courthouse | Westpac Stadium

ADVERTISEMENT