Awarded Contract: Esslingen District Administration Office
A new office building with 675 workstations, meeting rooms, council chambers, a canteen, a daycare center, and other facilities is being built in a prime location directly on the Neckar River in Esslingen. The new district administration office will be constructed to DGNB Gold standards, incorporating closed material cycles in accordance with the Cradle to Cradle principle. It will also feature a sustainable energy concept with a photovoltaic system and a heat pump supplied by water from the Neckar.
ProjectEsslingen District Administration Office
LocationEsslingen
ClientLandkreis Esslingen
PhotographyBFK architekten
The adjacent Merkelpark, the banks of the Neckar, and the Hammerkanal define the character of the site. From the direction of arrival, a clear visual and pedestrian connection leads across a generous forecourt to the main entrance, which opens toward the park.
At the same time, traffic is directed to the underground garage at the earliest possible point, and a separate access route is provided for the daycare center. This gives the daycare center its own address, an ideal orientation toward undisturbed green spaces, and views of the Neckar.
The stepped arrangement of the building structure integrates the existing high-rise into a larger composition whose shape is reminiscent of a horizontal figure eight. This form provides maximum flexibility in the layout and allows most workspaces to face outward toward either the park or the Neckar. The generous courtyards provide attractive daylight conditions and views of intensively planted roof areas.
Key areas of the district administration office are made visible from the river side. The political section opens toward the Neckar via a “Neckar Lounge” with an outdoor area and becomes the connecting element between the event spaces. In the evening, when council meetings frequently take place, the political activities will be visible from outside over a long distance, including from the B10 highway.
Upon entering the building, visitors are welcomed by a spacious, light-filled, two-story foyer surrounded by the public functions. It serves as a central point of circulation, with direct connections to the main access core, the connecting corridor to the existing building, and the vehicle registration office.
The foyer forms the joint between the two building volumes and opens toward the Neckar through a two-story “Neckar window.” The connecting bridge on the first floor runs along the river-facing façade, allowing visitors to experience the relationship with the Neckar within the public areas. On the ground floor, an outdoor amenity area can be accessed directly from the foyer.
The façade is defined by projecting vertical pilasters. The main entrance, foyer, and joint between the building volumes are subtly emphasized by a flush glass façade. In addition, the building’s two “political places” are marked by recesses in the building volume.
The political area on the ground floor extends outward via the Neckar loggia. The offices feature full-height fixed glazing, a side metal panel that can be opened for ventilation, a horizontal ceiling panel, and external venetian blinds.
On the south and southeast façades, photovoltaic elements are integrated into the ceiling panels and the side ventilation panels.
