left photo: daylit gallery space, Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Morger, Degelo, Kerez   |   right photo: light loft above gallery space, Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein

3. Building Systems and Device Integration

Contemporary buildings face more challenges than buildings of the past. Increased life safety and energy requirements have added systems and devices that previously did not exist. Mechanical systems, lighting, electrical, fire protection, etc., are necessary for the proper function of a contemporary building but can potentially clutter and visually distract. Overlapping building systems and devices can mute the identity of an otherwise clear and articulate building composition. The buildings included in this study skillfully integrate these required systems in a way that allows them to visually disappear. As a result, the architecture can be enjoyed uncluttered by elements that distract from the basic experience of form, spatial enclosure and materiality.