Page 136 - ELEMENTS EUROPA (EN)

132

SIGNS

Locating oneself and getting directions are the two main As for regulatory signs indicating emergency exits and fire-
objectives of a sign programme but in the Europa building they extinguisher cases, 15 x 15 cm square pictograms fit into the
must also meet other expectations: multi-coloured drawings decorating the doors, following the
– it must address various types of users and mark out each same mesh (see “The 15 x 15 cm square” p. 128).
of their specific routes as certain itineraries are reserved for
heads of State, others for ministers and others for delegations, Concerning the general orientation leaving lift landings, all
permanent representations, officials, journalists, suppliers and, the information related to the floor occupation programme and
last but not least, visitors; the ways to follow come together over grey vertical synoptic
– due to the political nature of the Europa building activity, panels. Their position is carefully chosen to make any other
such distinctions must be made “diplomatically”, avoiding indication useless, thus preventing a proliferation of “wild”
signs prohibiting passage or reserving it for specific people, as signs, often noticed in such situations.
these may be interpreted as being aggressive: inviting without
ordering; The challenge of the Europa building signs was met: it
– linguistic diversity must be taken into account. For instance, standardised a smooth and homogenous code, accommodating
places must be named in such a way that all different sorts of the frequency of markers according to situations: vast spaces,
users understand them immediately; local signs close to access doors, suspended pictograms in
– signage must complete the strong architectural identity corridors, etc. Reproducing it more easily than the extreme
of the prominent European Institution but be free of visual formal coding simplicity in other European Institution building
competition. equipment, be they in Belgium or in any other country, without
linguistic impediment.
Concretely, the formal programme includes reception, moves,
access to collective spaces, technical places, nameplates and
notice boards.

The best signs are non-existing signs. They extend the
obviousness architecture, give moves and step in only in cases
of “emergency”, where information is compulsory, in a sober
and useful fashion. Here, pictograms always appear as “pure”
signs, always on a wall, with no other materiality than their
shape, lines and colour.

Therefore, in order to avoid horizontal orientation pictograms
becoming autonomous objects floating in space, side soffits
hiding technical pipes and indirect lamps have been extended
here and there throughout the corridors. Not only do these
lower ceiling zones reduce the perceived length of straight long
itineraries but their materiality also becomes the pictograms’
background.

The office corridor.