'Oben' is the newly renovated company restaurant for Octapharma's Vienna campus. Won in a closed competition, the design focuses on bringing a human scale to an industrial hall. The space is organized around a rational plan that creates clear flows between the dining room and the meal stations. The space is scaled down through the application of a differentiated material palette, acoustical modifications, and a lighting design that corresponds to changing environmental conditions. A distinct series of material shifts determine the various areas in the hall. The meal stations are composed of hard surfaces of colored granite and clear powder-coated steel. Directly under the large vault, the main dining area is furnished in solid oak and leather. Two winter gardens are positioned along the perimeter and are marked by homogenous wood surfaces stained in a dark hue. Directly opposite of the meal stations on the other side of the main dining area is a shallow space with communal tables and wood paneling intended for more intimate gatherings. A private dining room is separated by glass and a curtain. The restrooms continue the same material language as the meal stations and feature large, custom-made basins in colored granite. To accommodate night operations on the campus, the dining room features a light installation at the bases of the vault. The light can be programmed to respond to seasonal lighting conditions and can accommodate specific events.
Location: Vienna, Austria
Principal use: Canteen
Total floor area: 800 m2
Number of stories: 1
Design team: Chieh-shu Tzou, Gregorio S. Lubroth, Kristina Zaunschirm, Anna Psenicka