MVRDV

WERK12

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

WERK12

MVRDV + N-V-O Architekten

MANUFACTURERS
Jansen

PARTNER IN CHARGE
Jacob Van Rijs

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Wolf+

CO ARCHITECTS
N-v-o Nuyken Von Oefele Architekten Bda

ARTWORK COMMISSION
Christian Engelmann And Beate Engl

VISUALIZATION
Antonio Luca Coco, Kirill Emelianov, Pavlos Ventouris

STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
Jan Knikker

PARTNER DIRECTOR
Fokke Moerel

DESIGN TEAM
Markus Nagler, Roy Sieljes, Jonathan Schuster, Sven Thorissen

MEP
Teuber + Viel

AREA
7700 M²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Munich, Germany

CATEGORY
Mixed Use Architecture

Text description provided by architect.

Forming the nucleus of the Werksviertel-Mitte district, an urban regeneration plan on a former industrial site, the 7,700m2 mixed-used development located close to Munich’s East Station stands out with its bold and expressive art façade featuring five-metre-tall verbal expressions found in German comics.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

The design of WERK12 combines a simple form, honest materials, and transparent façades.

Users can move around the building in multiple ways: the design’s external circulation core on the building’s northeastern side is supplemented by 3.25-metre-wide terraces that surround each floor of the building.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

These are connected by external staircases curling around the building to connect these generous open spaces (a playful reference to one of MVRDV’s most famous early projects, the Dutch Pavilion at the Expo2000 in Hanover).

This public route up the building blurs the distinction between interior and exterior, placing the interior spaces in conversation with exterior balconies.

These are additionally finished in the same material as the ground-level sidewalks to emphasise their status as part of the public area of the building.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

The façade is animated by an urban art piece developed in tandem with local artists Christian Engelmann and Beate Engl, comprising bold lettering spelling out common expressions taken from the German version of Donald Duck comics.

This 5-metre-tall lettering and the colloquial nature of the expressions chosen are a tribute to the graffiti culture and extensive use of signage found on the old site.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

At night, the appearance of the building is transformed by its illumination strategy. Simple geometries and honest materials morph into a vibrant light show.

“The area of the Werksviertel-Mitte district has already undergone such interesting changes, transforming from a potato factory to a legendary entertainment district,” says founding partner of MVRDV Jacob van Rijs.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

“With our design, we wanted to respect and celebrate that history, while also creating a foundation for the next chapter. WERK12 is stylish and cool on one hand, but on the other, it doesn’t take itself so seriously – it’s not afraid to say ‘PUH’ to passers-by!”

The five floors of the building are occupied by restaurants and bars on the ground floor, the offices of Audi Business Innovations on the top floor, and a three-storey gym in between that includes one storey dedicated to a swimming pool.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

WERK12’s floor-to-ceiling glass walls, combined with its location near to the train station, provide the upper levels with stunning views towards central Munich, punctuated in places by the lettering on the building’s terraces – many of which take on a new meaning when read in reverse.

A key to the design was the flexibility of the spaces.

The building’s extra-high ceilings – with 5.5 metres between each floor – allows for mezzanines or other level changes to be added by future users.

WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode

The placement of the circulation on the outside of the building means that the interiors can be easily reconfigured, while also providing structural stability through the use of the diagonal staircases.


WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode
WERK12
© Ossip van Duivenbode


WERK12
Ground floor plan
WERK12
Floor plan level 01
WERK12
Floor plan level 02
WERK12
Floor plan level 03
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Floor plan level 04
WERK12
Diagram


WERK12
Elevations
WERK12
Elevations


WERK12
Diagram
WERK12
Diagram
WERK12
Diagram


WERK12
Facade artwork diagram
WERK12
Section

MVRDV
T +31 10 477 2860
MVRDV
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