The Concept
Radically unadorned and uncompromising, the building was designed as the headquarters for a renowned company in Karlsruhe. With a total floor area of 3,000 square meters, 1,000 square meters of space per floor was created on three floors for individual offices and open-plan offices in accordance with the specifications of the future tenant. If necessary, the building can be subdivided into six units. The impressive, centrally positioned lobby has two elevators that bring customers and employees to the office floors. The building, which is 55 meters long and 17.50 meters wide, was designed as a “combination office.” This zoning combines individual workspaces with common multifunction areas for meetings, archiving, and team project work. The individual workspaces are arranged along the windows and the multifunction areas are located in the center of the room. Shared spaces are divided by means of tall glass elements. The stairwells are docked at the end of each office block, creating a separate entrance away from the main area. At the same time, the kitchens, wardrobes, and toilets that are located there create the necessary functional space for users.
The Design
Concrete and glass are the predominant materials of the monolithic structure. As a natural material, concrete has a very good life-cycle assessment and is a sustainable construction material. Concrete is also considered to be very economical, as manufacturing costs are unbeatably low given the relatively short construction times. With its unique characteristics, concrete also keeps out moisture and noise, acts as a heat insulator, and meets all fire safety requirements. The compact end walls with almost completely closed concrete facades together with the projecting flat roof form a “frame” between which the three-floor transom-mullion facade is positioned. The concrete walls on the exterior facade have double partitions with interior insulation. One innovation was the installation of thermal component activation, which is used to cool, heat, and ventilate the building. The temperatures in the building are thus always stable and natural, which has an enormous impact on the productivity and well-being of employees. The materials used were selected because they already have the appearance of the completed surface, making costly interior work unnecessary.
Building Type
Commercial
Completion
2005
Property Size
3000m² | 32292 SQ FT
Floor Space
3000m² | 32292 SQ FT
The Location
As the second largest city in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe is on the eastern shore of the Rhine River in the economically very strong and attractive Middle Upper Rhine region. Founded as a baroque planned city in 1715, Karlsruhe functioned as a capital and seat of royal power. After the war, it developed into the important seat of the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Constitutional Court alongside numerous authorities and research institutions. Lately, Karlsruhe has become a stronghold of new information and communication technology, which is also underpinned culturally with the Zentrum für Kunst- und Medientechnik (Center for Art and Media Technology). The Middle Upper Rhine region has more than one million residents with continuous growth and a healthy social and economic structure. Major international concerns, medium-sized enterprises, and start-up companies offer a balanced mix of industries. The strong cultural legacy of fortresses, castles and churches, museums, and libraries can be found throughout the region and in influential neighboring cities such as Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Heidelberg.