The goal of the design was to construct a clear and user-friendly office building that exceeded typical design standards. The focus was also to develop a new front façade for the group of buildings in the block that would blend the various styles and architectural expressions into a cohesive whole.
Studio Name: Atelier Starzak Strebicki, ch+ architekci, Böll Architekten, INCO, ARUP, Maiworm
Design Team: Jola Starzak, Dawid Strębicki, Ada Kocieniewska, Barbara Nila, Maria Rybakowska, Agnieszka Grzemska, Katarzyna Krawczyk. Soledad Stampa Guilarte
Year: 2021-2022
Location: Essen, Germany
The office floors feature a mixed typology with multiple variations, offering a flexible design that can be easily modified in the future. The repetitive areas such as coffee tables, bathrooms, and installation shafts are located in the central area of each floor. Additionally, double height spaces for informal use, such as personal or team activities, are provided along with an internal open staircase that connects all office levels, promoting a more diverse spatial and social connection.
The attic floor has a conference area and a terrace, and a part of the roof space is designed for greening which aid in passive cooling and rainwater buffering. Trees are planted around the building at street level to serve as a natural façade, and are irrigated by rainwater collected on the roofs.
The depth of the colonnades in the front façade creates an intermediate space that creates a smooth transition between the interior and exterior. This space also serves as an extension of the office, resembling the Japanese Hisashi – a soft transition from the inside into the outside.
The exterior façades not only improve acoustic and thermal comfort, but also connect the historic part of the complex with new contemporary additions. The new façade is made of prefabricated blasted concrete elements in a light sandy grey tone, which includes horizontal and vertical elements. The large windows in the colonnade provide a connection between the ground floor and the urban space. The building is designed with a strict grid that allows for flexibility in the infill of façade elements. The East side, overlooking a noisy street, is equipped with multiple glazing to reduce noise pollution. Textile Sun protection is installed on the southern and southwestern sides.
The building has a very favorable A/V ratio, and to keep operating costs low, high energy efficiency is ensured for both winter and summer seasons with optimal comfort. The building concept is intended to be DGNB environmental certification compliant, and the floor plan and façade design allow for optimal and glare-free daylight utilization in all areas. To cover the remaining energy demand, the extensive use of renewable energy sources is proposed.
