Pedra Silva Arquitectos

Fraunhofer Headquarters

Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado

FRAUNHOFER HEADQUARTERS

 Pedra Silva Arquitectos

PHOTOGRAPHS
João Morgado

AREA
1660.0 m2

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
Porto, Portugal

CATEGORY
Offices Interiors

Text description provided by architect.

Associação Fraunhofer Portugal is a non-­‐profit private research association and is part of the German Fraunhofer-­ Gesellschaft, the largest organization for applied research in Europe.

Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado

Although not familiar to the general public, Fraunhofer is responsible for many important innovations, including, for example, the MP3 file format, and many advances in workplace organization research.

Our team was selected, through an open competition, to design the new Porto headquarters, located at the Technology University Campus:

“Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Universidade do Porto (UPTEC)”. Our design took into account Fraunhofer’s innovative philosophy trough a message that is simple, but at the same time positive and dynamic. 

Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado

Workplace layout and organizational elements from Fraunofer Office Inovation Center in Stutgard (Germany) were also an important input to the project, adding another layer to our concept.

The new research facilities occupy two floors in a new UPTEC building in a total of 1660 sqm.

Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado

Circulation is the project’s backbone; all spaces appear along a distribution route located next to the glass façade.

This main axis allows access to all different spaces. These spaces, with different functions and sizes, are generated and consolidated trough a bold gesture:

Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado

a waving plane that goes through the open floors, creating different spaces and ambients. Text provided by Pedra Silva Architects.

Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado


Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado
Fraunhofer Headquarters
© João Morgado

Pedra Silva Arquitectos
T +351 217 156210 M +351 916 892144
Pedra Silva Arquitectos
Tv. Corpo Santo 10 1dto, 1200-131 Lisboa, Portugal