Competition: Office Building – Fellbach
Location and Urban Design
The site of the new administration building is located at the intersection of Höhenstraße and Wilhelm-Pfitzer-Straße, in a highly heterogeneous commercial area.
Coming from the north, the site marks the entrance to the adjacent commercial district. Situated between a railway line, a multi-storey car park, and a development of show homes, the surroundings offer few points of reference in urban-design terms. The only notable architectural feature is the building at Höhenstraße 21, which creates a visual accent through its height.
Given these urban conditions, the new administration building requires a distinct identity that should also have a defining impact on the surrounding neighbourhood.
The urban design concept is initially based on the idea of perimeter block development with two inner courtyards. This approach makes efficient use of the available site while defining a clear urban edge in relation to the heterogeneous surrounding buildings. In a second step, the two halves of the building were shifted along the central section. This breaks up the overall length of the building, articulates the building volume, and creates two differently usable plaza areas. By slightly rotating the building wings, the two inner courtyards open up, respond to the urban edge created by the existing multi-storey car park, and narrow the building footprint towards the adjacent show-home development.
The urban focus is placed along Höhenstraße by means of a high-rise element. This tower is not only the focal point and defining address of the new administration building; it also establishes the desired urban reference point within the complex surrounding context.
With six entrances, the building can accommodate up to seven independent usage units, each with direct access to the underground car park. A central circulation axis connecting the building wings on the ground floor makes it possible to separate the public areas, such as the restaurant and entrance zones.
Erdgeschoss
5. Obergeschoss
Office Areas
The office areas, with a building depth of approximately 16 metres, allow for the creation of a range of different office environments. Depending on the selected office depths, various combination zones can be configured. These areas can accommodate a variety of uses, including kitchenettes, staff rooms, open and enclosed meeting areas, storage zones, workstations, and telephone booths.
Energy Concept
The energy concept is designed to minimise the use of resources and energy. Heating and cooling are provided by a reversible air-to-water heat pump with a natural refrigerant, which is used for cooling in summer and heating in winter. In winter, waste heat from the servers is also utilised. A gas condensing boiler is used to cover peak loads.
The concrete core activation system is cooled at night during the summer and serves as a thermal energy store. Improved insulation of the building envelope, triple glazing, external venetian blinds, concrete core activation, and ventilation units with high heat recovery ensure a high level of thermal comfort.
