Michael Ong Design Office

Urban Module

Urban Module
© Aedes Studio

Urban Module 

Aedes Studio

ARCHITECTS
Aedes Studio

PHOTOGRAPHS
Aedes Studio 

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Sofia, Bulgaria

CATEGORY
Office Buildings

Text description provided by architect.

UM is situated on “Al.Stamboliiski” boulevard, which arrives from “St.Nedelya” church at the very center of Sofia.

Urban Module
© Aedes Studio
Urban Module
© Aedes Studio

Following this axis, the tower is the second high rise after the National Insurance Institute (NII) building.

Analogical to the composition of the NII and its white local stone, contrasting the horizontality of the facing shopping mall and following the details of the Stalinist school building next to it, UM establishes connection with the local context.

The design commenced with a simple combination of slabs and columns.

Urban Module
© Aedes Studio
Urban Module
Urban Module
© Aedes Studio

Broken through the prism of Modernity, they became signs of prefabrication, resemblingdouble T panels.

Interacting with the details of the neighboring school building, joints were placed at the middle of each element thus breaking the volume into smaller parts.

Urban Module
© Aedes Studio
Urban Module
© Aedes Studio

The new structurewas then exposed to forces of attraction and repulsion, each in its own direction, adding some individuality to the repeating offices and responding to the fragmentized Business condition of contemporary Sofia. Thus the slabs and columns shifted indifferent ways, yet remaining parts of the whole.

The alternating volumes give an idea of an ongoing process, exalted by joints and the windows transposed back and forth.

In addition, the regularity of the façade was randomly interrupted by solid niches instead of glazing between the elements.

Urban Module
© Aedes Studio
Urban Module
© Aedes Studio

The depth of the columns gives the opportunity to improve the solar shading, arriving at a more balanced and sustainable condition. Finally on both sides of the tower intermediate elements are smoothly connecting it to the existing residential buildings.

With its height of 15 storeysplaced on a small footprint, UM becomes a new vertical repère in this dynamic urban landscape.


Urban Module
Basement Floor Plan
Urban Module
First Floor Plan
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Second Floor Plan
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Third Floor Plan
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Fourth Floor Plan
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Fifth Floor Plan
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Sixth Floor Plan
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Site Plan


Urban Module
Section 1
Urban Module
Section 2


Urban Module
Elevation 1
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Elevation 2
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Elevation 3


Urban Module
Detail 1
Urban Module
Detail 2
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Detail 3
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Detail 4
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Detail 5

Michael Ong Design Office
T +61 437 879833
Michael Ong Design Office
suite 2/22-26 Howard St, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia