Nordwest Haus by Baumschlager Eberle Architekten

Located on Lake Constance, the Nordwest Haus was complated in 2000 as the final phase of three of this harbor renovation. The first phase was the completion of the cantileverd Port Office, shown below, and the second was the harbor wall and infill. The clubhouse is meant to serve as a multipurpose meeting space for the sailing community.

The harbor wall and pavilion foundation are made from local stone to contribute to a sustainable water habitat. The club house pavilion is detached from the harbor wall and appears to float as it rises out of the water. The outer shell of glass has been mechanically etched to give the pavilion a translucency that obscures views into and out of the pavilion. The concrete structure is inspired by water ripples and is completely cast in-situ. The concrete box is divided into ten sections to facilitate pouring stages and the vertical openings are the result of a carefully considered, repeatable formwork system. The formwork design was made possible through the use of modular wooden elements to reduce cost and to contribute to a more efficient use of material. The wooden formwork consisted of six types of pieces--three different radii, both concave and convex--used in various combinations to produce the effect of non-repeated geometries.