ATRIUM BLUMER LEHMANN HEADQUARTERS »STAMMHAUS«

The new headquarters of the Swiss timber construction company Blumer Lehmann exemplifies contemporary timber architecture. At its core, a sculptural atrium with a freeform stair – designed by the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart – unfolds through the precise arrangement and intersection of curved cross-laminated timber elements. These elements integrate a spiraling staircase, mediate between the building’s levels, frame views, define alcoves, and generate a distinct spatial character. The project synthesizes computational design methods, digital fabrication, and expert craftsmanship into an architectural expression that makes the pioneering potential of timber construction spatially tangible. The overall building, which houses 180 office workspaces, a conference hall, and a cafeteria, was designed by K&L Architekten, St. Gallen.

For a detailed description and more images please view:

https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/atrium/

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PROJECT TEAM

Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD)
Prof. Achim Menges, Martin Alvarez, Laura Kiesewetter, David Stieler, Dr. Dylan Wood, with support of: Edgar Schefer, Lena Strobel, Alina Turean

Blumer Lehmann AG
Katharina Lehmann, Martin Looser, David Riggenbach, Ursula Frick, Bertie Hipkin, Benedikt Schneider

K&L Architekten AG
Thomas Lehmann, Johanna Deinet

SJB Kempter Fitze AG (Engineers)
Stefan Rick

TEXOVERSUM
New Education and Innovation Centre

Texoversum, an education, research and innovation centre for the cross-cutting technology in the field of textiles, is being established on the campus of Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences. As part of an ensemble, the new building will be developed and implemented as part of the master plan for the expansion of the Reutlingen campus. The Texoversum is a powerful and at the same time communicative element in the urban context of the academic institution. Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten, Menges Scheffler Architekten and Jan Knippers Ingenieure are responsible for the design as a team. They were awarded first prize in the related design competition and subsequently commissioned with the realisation. The Texoversum comprises almost 3,000 square metres of space for different user groups. It includes workshops, laboratories, the internationally renowned collection of historical textile and fabric samples, multifunctional areas for research and development and various classrooms.

The architectural concept is based on a multifaceted examination of the topic of textile architecture. The design theme is reflected both structurally in the internal interweaving of functions and in the building envelope that creates its own identity. The unique façade made of carbon and glass fibres, the first of its kind to be implemented in this way, represents the innovative power and future viability of fibre-based materials and textile techniques. In a robotic winding process developed at the institutes of Achim Menges (ICD) and Jan Knippers (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart, each individual facade element can be individually tuned to its functional requirements. Starting from three basic modules, the elements transform themselves according to their orientation toward the sun and form a unique, multi-layered appearance. The elements are completely self-supporting and do not require a supporting structure. Their staggered arrangement allows free views. In addition to the functional requirements as external shading devices and guard railing, the façade meets aesthetic and representative demands and creates a distinctive building that expresses textiles as a driving force for technology.

The design theme of permeability and networking is continued in the conception of the building structure. In its inner structure, Texoversum is designed as an open, transparent building with split levels. The offset mezzanine levels, which are also visually interwoven via the atrium, connect the different areas of use with each other and form a spatial continuum that ends in a generous roof terrace. Visually, each level boasts an unmistakable industrial character with hard-wearing screed and polished concrete surfaces as well as a ceiling with exposed conduits. The tiered seating platforms, offering a contrast as soft-furnished spaces, are designed to connect the levels one with another. Separate areas can be partitioned off where needed using fabric dividers. This open-plan design creates a collaborative workspace for the respective user groups, fostering open communication and offering various forums for an animated exchange of ideas.

SCHÖNHOF VIERTEL BOCKENHEIM

New construction of a mixed-use building complex

The new centre of the Schönhof district will be created by two mixed-use building complexes with a central square in between. Housing, education, commerce and a sports hall are organised in two ‘city blocks’ and form the new centre of the district.

The block as a historically established polyfunctional urban figure forms the basic framework for a hybrid building utilisation.

The staggered height development responds to the planned surrounding development, while the residential building with its different building depths additionally profiles and structures the urban buildings. The heterogeneous uses, residential, school, day care centre and retail can be seen in the building expression.

Building site B contains the local amenities of the new urban quarter on the ground floor: two supermarkets, several retail outlets and a restaurant facing the neighbourhood square. On the first floor, there are medical practices or offices as well as an indoor childcare centre. The remaining areas and all other upper floors are reserved exclusively for residential use. This urban mix of uses helps to reduce traffic in the neighbourhood to bicycles and pedestrians.

Hellerhöfe, Frankfurt am Main

urban planning competition

BÖRSENVEREIN DES DEUTSCHEN BUCHHANDEL
Conversion and extension of three listed buildings

Competition, 1st prize

The new home of the Börsenverein is located in Frankfurt’s city centre between Braubachstraße and Berliner Straße. It consists of three listed old buildings that are now part of the city’s familiar image. These three buildings and a new building house the entire Börsenverein group: the Börsenverein itself, the Gesellschaft für Ausstellungen und Messen and the Marketing- und Vertriebsgesellschaft (MVB) as well as other Börsenverein institutions.

They will be carefully adapted to their new use through refurbishment, remodelling, two extensions inside the block and connecting bridges.

Despite their different appearances, the two buildings in Braubachstrasse date back to 1926 and are part of the first major redevelopment of the old city centre, which was carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. In contrast, the house in Berliner Strasse was only completed in 1956. It symbolises the return of white modernism after the Second World War and pays homage to Le Corbusier’s ‘Pavillon Suisse’ in Paris.

Geschäftshaus Neue Mainzer Straße

Conversion, restoration and extension of a listed building by P. Wallot

STADTWERKE
Conversion, refurbishment and extension of the Stadtwerke customer centre from 1954

The project goes back to a limited realisation competition won in the 1990s. The old customer centre was built in 1954 on a destroyed inner city site on the newly aligned Kurt-Schumacher-Straße.

The old reinforced concrete skeleton construction clad in natural stone did not meet the requirements of modern office space in terms of building technology or utilisation. In addition, an increase in office space was required, which led to an extension of the old building.

Rathaus Nordbau, Stadtkämmerei Paulsplatz

Conversion and restoration of a listed administrative building

Urban planning competition

Hügelstraße, Frankfurt am Main

The competition area is a well-developed and green urban residential area. It consists mainly of apartment buildings and terraced houses from the 1920s as well as typical row housing from the post-war period. By means of careful redensification in the form of additional storeys and new buildings, this valuable urban area is to urban area will be able to offer more people a home in the future. At the same time, the outdoor facilities are to be renovated in keeping with the times and developed into neighborhood meeting points (»double internal development«). In addition, a rentable community room, a daycare center and a small supermarket for local supply are proposed.

Approx. 21,000 m² of new gross floor area will be created. The residential share amounts to approx. 20,200 m² GFA, of which approx. 6,700 m² in the supplementary buildings and approx. 13,500 m² in the extensions and roof extensions.

The structural additions are to be executed in such a way that the difference between old and new always remains clearly legible. For reasons of sustainability, weight and short construction time, a timber construction with boarding made of wood or fiber cement as cladding is proposed.

Polytechnische Gesellschaft

Renovation of the headquarter of the Polytechnic association

Kulturcampus

Design for a new office building, housing and cultural facilities

Wohn- und Geschäftshaus in der Friedrichstrasse, Westend

Conversion and renovation of a residential- and office building