Straightforwardness and pragmatism - the new weisenburger headquarters in Karlsruhe
When a construction company builds its own new house, it has to be something special. weisenburger opted for a functional, discreet and at the same time self-confident building and hired a famous architect: The design was created by the Japanese Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando. "A common concern of architect and client was to create an aesthetically valuable building that meets the latest technical standards, is energy-efficient and offers our employees the best working conditions," explains Nicolai Weisenburger. The result is a staggered building with a seven-storey, overhanging head building and four-storey side wings in exposed concrete. It is crowned with a spacious green roof terrace.
Aesthetics of focus
The "master of minimalism" uses exposed concrete according to "his own recipe". With flat surfaces and sharp edges, the velvety feel typical of Ando gives the building elegance and strictness. The palette of materials and colours is simple and elegant; Ando has mastered the art of reduction, not only in the façade, but also in the spatial experiences - right down to the last detail. In the bathroom area, for example, the decision was made to use flush plates from the TECEsolid range, which, with their visual quality and robustness, are particularly attractive for semi-public areas. The flat design, harmoniously rounded edges and high-quality stainless steel surfaces create a visual elegance that integrates perfectly into Ando's overall concept.
State-of-the art technology
The new corporate headquarters is not connected to any external heat sources. The required thermal energy is obtained via heat pumps with a predictive control strategy. To store the energy, the floor slab of the third basement floor and the ceiling of the first basement floor are activated to form a thermal buffer storage. Via two parallel, independent systems, the transfer of heat and cold to the room takes place completely autonomously. This avoids 30 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The contractor knows: especially in the bathroom area where space is at a premium, the coordination between trades must work in detail. With the TECEprofil pre-wall system used, the toilet, washbasin and other sanitary elements can be installed safely and individually in the bathroom using the dry construction method - regardless of the factors that usually dictate the placement in the bathroom. The pre-wall technology makes it possible to realise different room layouts and to comply with standards and regulations easily and safely. This gives the house a coherent signature from the overall appearance down to the last detail.
