In 2003, Cologne-based architects Grützner were commissioned to design an office building for the Brings Group in an industrial park east of Bornheim. The real estate developer sought a corporate headquarters that would authentically express its commitment to modern, sustainable architecture. The solution: an innovative hybrid construction approach. The structural framework combines reinforced concrete slabs supported by steel columns and stabilized by a central concrete stairwell core. The exterior walls employ timber frame construction with cellulose insulation, topped with hardboard cladding and white render for weather protection.

The floor-to-ceiling windows feature a timber post-and-beam structure framed by anodised aluminium profiles. On the south-west elevation, a steel sun-screening system with staggered wooden louvers provides shade while lending the façade distinctive character. The three-storey office building was conceived with future expansion in mind: a centrally positioned entrance and lift allow for seamless growth—either as a unified extension or divided into separate units.Fifteen years later, Grützner Architects seized the opportunity to add a second phase: a lower, two-storey pavilion adjoins the original structure, connected by a transparent link that visually unites the two. Individual offices face north-west through expansive aluminium post-and-beam windows, topped by a canopy that defines a sheltered outdoor space. The new wing echoes the design vocabulary of the first phase so subtly that its addition only reveals itself upon closer inspection. Like its predecessor, it eschews the composite materials typical of industrial estates, instead privileging natural materials. This commitment to sustainability extends to the building's infrastructure: a heat-recovery ventilation system and photovoltaic installation work together to maximise renewable energy performance.

www.gruetzner-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Axel Hartmann
www.ah-fotografie.de

Manos Meisen
www.manosmeisen.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne 02|23)