Fire station
Buildings for the chemicals industry dominate the surroundings of the fire station in Pratteln. Inspired by the stainless steel silos in the direct vicinity, the architects covered their concrete building with perforated, untreated aluminium sheeting.
The shimmering cladding with vertical supports conceals most of the windows behind it and gives the fire station a sculptural character.
The façade is recessed on two sides.
The large vehicle depot with the fire engines is situated behind tall glass gates.
The floor and walls of the two-storey hall are painted in striking, radiant red. An L-shaped, two-storey functional building envelops the garage.
The process and organisation of a fire-fighting operation determined the floor plan of the elongated building. The workshop, hose-washing facility and warehouse, among others, are accommodated on the ground floor. Most rooms are accessible from the outside.
Two staircases along the two narrow sections of the building provide the fire fighters access to the upper level.
Like a gallery, a long, narrow corridor along the vehicle depot reveals a view of the space from above and provides access to the floor. Skylights allow daylight to shine into the corridor. The facilities on the upper level include the operations centre and a meeting room.
To achieve an affordable building, the architects used materials that were untreated wherever possible, thereby highlighting the industrial purpose of the functional building.
