JSWD Architekten GmbH & Co. KG

Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen

Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Michael Wolff

Q1, THYSSENKRUPP QUARTER ESSEN

Chaix & Morel et Associés + JSWD Architekten

ARCHITECTS
Chaix & Morel et Associés + JSWD Architekten

LOCATION
Essen, Germany

PHOTOGRAPHS
Christian Richters, Günter Wett, Michael Wolff

CATEGORY
Institutional Buildings

MANUFACTURERS
POHL, Loytec, Ophelis, Wagner-Ewar, thyssenkrupp

YEAR
2010

FACADE CONSULTANTS

Priedemann Fassadenberatung GmbH, Berlin und Werner Sobek

EXTERIOR FACILITIES
Kipar Landschaftsarchitekten

CONSTRUCTION SUNSHADE FACADE
Frener + Reifer, Brixen / Bressanone

OVERALL PLANNING
ECE Projektmanagement GmbH & Co. KG

LIGHTING DESIGN
Licht Kunst Licht

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
IDN Ingenieurbüro

CLIENT

ThyssenKrupp AG

Text description provided by architect.

Announcing its return to Essen, the principal, ThyssenKrupp AG, clearly turns its attention to the region where the technology giant has its roots.

The company continues to write its history on the grounds of the former Fried. Krupp cast iron factory from 1811.

Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Christian Richters
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Christian Richters

Typologically, the new quarter follows the idea of campus architecture, an ensemble of various individual buildings on a “green carpet” with trees, connecting paths and small squares.

Expectations were focused on a structure that would flexibly react to changes within the company. The Q1 building is the readily noticeable accent at the centre of the structure-providing main water axis.

The new campus symbolizes openness, coming together and communication, both within the quarter and looking outward, toward the bordering city neighbourhoods. The overriding design motif applied to all the new buildings on the campus is the “shell – core” principle.

Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Michael Wolff
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Günter Wett

All buildings in the quarter are composed of L- shaped elements enclosing a shared central space. This gives a clear alignment not only to the headquarters (Q1) but also the forum building (Q2) and the neighboring office buildings Q5 and Q7.

There are two types of facade: One faces the central space, the other faces the exterior and is therefore responsible for the impact the buildings create in the surrounding area.

Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Günter Wett
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Christian Richters

It is not the height, but the unique, expressive form of the Q1 building that bestows its special status on the campus. The use of geometrical nestling of its volumes around a common centre creates not only an exciting exterior appearance, but also fascinating interior spatial progressions. The glass- roofed atrium is at the building’s centre. It rises over 10 storeys in height and is segmented by countless mezzanines and footbridges.

Two monumental landscape windows act as delimiters on the north and south sides. The new, highly efficient sun protection system has a key role in the overall appearance of Q1. The circa 400,000 stainless steel lamellas are oriented in response to the location of the sun and enable light redirection without blocking the view.

Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Christian Richters
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
© Michael Wolff

The Q1 building has been awarded a gold certificate by the German Society for Sustainable Building (DGNB). The building has also received the BDA Essen award, the “2012 German Steel Construction Award” and one of the “LEAF Awards”, in addition to others.


Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Site Plan
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Plan
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Plan


Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Section
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Section
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Section


Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Sunshade Diagram
Q1, ThyssenKrupp Quarter Essen
Model

JSWD Architekten GmbH & Co. KG
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JSWD Architekten GmbH & Co. KG
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