The administrative building for Northwest Germany's textile and clothing industry showcases the remarkable power of a brick façade to captivate and inspire. At first glance, it's clear that fabric plays a central role in its design concept. Architect Roland Bondzio and his team conceived an ingenious approach: translating this textile theme directly into the composition of the brickwork itself—and executed it with extraordinary precision. The result is a façade that seems almost weightless, as if a delicate cloth were gently billowing in the breeze.

The inspiration came from an unexpected source: Max Klinger's Beethoven statue in Leipzig's Bildermuseum, with its remarkably lifelike alabaster drapery. Klinger achieved something paradoxical—viewers perceive flowing, lightweight fabric cascading across Beethoven's knees, yet simultaneously recognize it as solid stone. To translate this visual paradox onto a brick façade required unprecedented precision. A custom-developed computer program guided the entire planning process. Seven distinct brick dimensions were specially manufactured to create the desired optical effect—achieved primarily through the interplay of shadow cast by each individual unit. The final execution was equally meticulous: 74,000 custom-made bricks were individually positioned across 1,300 m² of façade, each stone placed exactly where calculations had determined.

Arriving from the south, visitors encounter a striking, closed façade dominated by this intricate brickwork. But the building reveals a different character facing north, opening generously to frame panoramic views of the surrounding countryside—a privilege for the textile association's staff. Daylight floods every interior space; supplementary sun protection proved unnecessary. This northern exposure formed the foundation for an energy-conscious design, achieving KfW Efficiency House 55 certification.

www.2bxl.com

Photography Credits:

Thomas Wrede VG-Bild-Kunst, Bonn
www.thomas-wrede.de
bondzio lin architects
Hey-Sign, photography: Reimund Braun

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 04|21)