A new office building designed by Herzog & de Meuron is set to grace the shores of Lake Geneva in 2021. The Swiss architecture practice, known for its sensitive, material-led and site-specific approach, has been announced by global wealth and asset management company Lombard Odier as the designers of its new head office.
Competing against practices such as BIG, Dominique Perrault and OMA for the commission, Herzog & de Meuron impressed Lombard Odier with a ‘resolutely contemporary’ approach that was cutting-edge yet also addressed the building from the sky, land and lake, in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
Located on a 27,400 sq m plot of land that borders Lake Geneva, the open and transparent form with elegantly cantilevering and curved floor slabs will allow employees to experience nature from within the building.
‘A stone-clad bunker would no longer be in keeping with the image of a contemporary bank. We have designed a transparent, elegant and measured building; as such, its architecture reflects the vision and values of Lombard Odier,’ says Pierre de Meuron.
Marking an important step forward for Lombard Odier – to which the concept of ‘one roof’ was a key part of the brief – the headquarters will house all 2,600 employees under one roof, as well as an 600-seat auditorium and a staff restaurant.
