The new headquarters of Stadtwerke Meerbusch Willich resolved contradictory requirements in a creative way – and received (among other things) a German Design Award for this.
Sometimes outstanding architecture results from seemingly irresolvable contradictions. The new headquarters of Stadtwerke Meerbusch Willich is one such case. Due to its proximity to old industrial buildings with brick façades, the new building also had to feature brick elements in its exterior design. At the same time, however, the building envelope had to be made entirely of glass for maximum flexibility. Brick, glass – which is it? SCHRAMMEN Architekten BDA developed a creative and aesthetic solution for this tricky task in Allplan. The lively interior design proves that the office's wealth of ideas was by no means exhausted. All in all, this is clearly worthy of a German Design Award 2024.
Not a brick, but it looks like one
But first things first: how do you solve the seemingly unsolvable? In a roundabout way, of course. In the case of Stadtwerke Meerbusch Willich, this involved a special construction and a particular choice of materials. Ceramic elements were placed in front of the glass façade using a construction specially developed for the building, which (after many color sequence tests) imitates the color of the brick walls of the neighboring buildings. So, it's not brick, but it looks like brick – and it's so “true to color” that the office building blends in perfectly with its surroundings. The ceramic parts can be flexibly installed and removed, thus ensuring complete flexibility of use.
A work of art on the inside
Inside, the impressive connecting staircase stands out in particular, functioning as a marketplace-like, communicative meeting point that connects all other areas equally. This open, self-supporting staircase in the center of the three-story building is a work of art in itself. The elegantly curved, organic shape reflects the core themes of Stadtwerke Meerbusch Willich's corporate culture – lightness and transparency. These values are also reflected in the approximately 3,500 square meters of office space, which is largely open and communicative. This openness is complemented by smaller rooms for concentrated work and telephone calls.
German Design Award for Stadtwerke Meerbusch Willich
The special office building was recently awarded the German Design Award 2024 for its design finesse, and quite rightly so. But there is more to the company headquarters than just its award-winning design. The building is also a literal prime example of energy sustainability. In addition to geothermal heating, fuel cell water treatment and smart lighting, it also has 15 e-charging points and two DC fast chargers that visitors to the municipal utility can use. At the same time, the headquarters of the local energy supplier serves as a demonstration and learning site for a sustainable energy supply. Interested parties can get an idea of photovoltaic modules, heat pumps, and the like directly on site.
© All image rights regarding the images shown above belong to the photographer Philip Kistner.
