Massimiliano FUKSAS - EUROPARK

Massimiliano FUKSAS - (2005) - EuroPark 2 (Salzburg, Österreich) The Europark in Salzburg is a large building situated on an area of 120,000 square meters, used as retail space and for 3000 cars parking, close to highway and airport. Its horizontal arrangement is bounded by the gently curved roof, formed by a corrugated metal fence. The radiant facades consist of a "double skin" transparent and translucent coating that is reflected in the small gap of water that surrounds the entire perimeter. They behave like modern billboards and are characterized by the name of the mall "Europark" printed in white on blue glass. The double screen printing is done on the outside than on the inner plates of glass, gives depth and dimensionality to the logo, highlighted in the evening by artificial lighting system placed in the cavity of the two skins. The exterior of the building changes every hour of the day depending on changes in natural light which makes it more or less transparent surfaces. The center is organized on four levels: the ground floor and first floor are for sale, while the basement and the roof are both used for parking. The space distribution and internal linking are optimized so as to give order and clarity to the interior and to create spaces for relaxation and aggregation. The "Squares" and "Gallerie" inside are lit by natural light from large skylights, comprised of panels and glass panels angled vertical side walls that can be opened automatically to allow for the possible evacuation of the smoke. La a great wave of light and transparent network, 140 m long 320 m wide, running along the whole facade; made of metal grating, the wave is the major architectural motif of the project. Suggestive allusion to an ocean that has no counterpart in Austria, coverage, strongly characterized, gives shelter to the parking spaces and is a strong sign of large-scale recall. The continuity of the element is in contrast to the available dynamic and tense of the underlying volume, determined by the strength of "empty" interior, which has been reserved for commercial activities. In the southern area, enriched by vegetation, a refined game of reflexes, including the big screen-printed glass wall of the mall and the tub of water crossed by paths, demonstrates once again the architect's attention to the treatment of "light" and the use of "transparency".