New premises

Editorial

by Jean-Claude Trichet

The ceremony of the foundation stone marked the transition from the planning towards reality. The project was initiated by the GoverningCouncil under the Presidency of my honoured colleague Wim Duisenberg in 1998. more

The energy concept for the new ECB premises

From the very outset of the preparations for the international urban planning and architectural design competition, it had been the stated aim of the European Central Bank (ECB) that its new premises should be 30% more energy-efficient than stipulated by the Energieeinsparverordnung 2007 (German energy-saving directive of 2007). more

Site working hours

The laying of the foundation stone on 19 May 2010 marks the official start of construction work on the European Central Bank’s new premises. This construction project presents both a logistical and a scheduling challenge to all the parties involved. more

Wolf D. Prix at the laying of the foundation stone ceremony

Not only does architecture have the job of providing a shell for functions, but its architectural aesthetic must also allow three-dimensional cross-references to be produced to the culture of our globalised society without denying its location. more