Novu Campus
New working environments
The Circle Zurich forms a compact, urban district at Zurich Airport, bringing together a diverse range of uses within a clear architectural structure. It combines contemporary working environments, hospitality and public spaces in a carefully conceived overall concept. With Novu Campus, a workplace of the future has been created that combines flexibility, design and quality of stay. Across approximately 4,500 m², different working and communal areas come together – from a generous event space and open-plan work zones to secluded retreats within niches and stairwell cubes.
Responsive environments
The design brief was defined by maximum flexibility. Spaces and workstations need to be able to evolve continuously, and the lighting needs to evolve with them. At the same time, architectural highlights are to be accentuated with precision. The solution lies in a lighting system that combines both: technical adaptability and design precision. MOVE IT PRO 45 is used as a track system that brings technical flexibility and architectural quality into balance. Thanks to its modular design, the insets can be repositioned at any time and adapted to changing requirements.
“In an urban setting, we have been able to create an oasis that, thanks to its lighting concept, provides an attractive working environment at any time of day.”
Stefan Waser and Bea Knöpfel, dopo Innenarchitektur
Duality inlight
The project is situated between two strongly contrasting external environments: the urban airfield of the airport and the green park area of The Circle. This duality defines the spatial structure. Communal areas are oriented towards the dynamic airport side, while quieter zones face the park. The lighting subtly supports this zoning and reinforces the character of each area. Particular attention was paid to the stairwell cubes and planting. A high colour rendering index (CRI > 90) ensures an authentic and brilliant representation of materials and plants.
Future-proof lighting
The Circle sets new standards in sustainability. As the largest Minergie building in Switzerland and one of the highest-rated projects, it has also been awarded LEED Platinum certification. Accordingly, the requirements for energy efficiency and sustainable lighting design were particularly demanding. A central element of the concept is the use of the MOVE IT PRO system, with its high efficiency and flexibility. Without structural modifications, the lighting can be adapted to changing spatial configurations. Maintenance work can also be carried out quickly and easily. This high degree of adaptability extends the system’s service life, reduces material consumption and thus makes an important contribution to long-term resource conservation.
The urban oasis
The result is a working environment that balances dynamism and retreat. Despite its urban location, an atmosphere has been created that supports calm, concentration and inspiration. Light plays a central role: it structures the space, provides orientation and, thanks to Tunable White, gives Novu Campus a distinct quality throughout the day – an urban oasis of well-being that flexibly adapts to the needs of its users. Novu Campus is the workplace of the future.
In the spotlight
At the heart of our work is the search for the conceptual essence: the decisive idea, the breakthrough in the floor plan. Every brief presents us with a central question. We analyse, challenge and resolve it with precision. And we do not stop there: we develop ideas consistently, test and refine them until they are reduced to the essentials. We believe that a strong conceptual foundation is as important as precise planning and meticulous attention to detail. We are convinced that you can sense when a space works – when all its elements come together to create a coherent whole.
