Each one camouflages a programmatic function. The aluminum was brushed with handheld machines to enhance the texture and the play of light, and was chosenfor its lightness and neutrality.
Tables fill in the unobstructed, glazed perimeter.
Aluminum floor panels, following the original grid, have a smooth, waxed finish, which protects the surface from stains. Just beneath this metal flooring, a layer of bitumen, above 2 inches of very light-weight concrete, cushions the sounds of scraping chairs and high heels. Physically connecting the forms to the floor, however, was not easy. Each volume is anchored with up to 27 spring connections, attached to steel plates that are cemented to the concrete slab. Accommodatingthe weight restrictions and the underlying concrete floor's scant 4-inch depth, the springs help prevent deflection due to static loads.