You have to look twice to realize that the feel-good ambience of this building does not belong to a private home, but to a commercial property. The employees of the tea wholesaler based there and the team from the Freiraumkonzept architecture firm, which has its offices on the upper floor, are likely to benefit from this working atmosphere. The building in the Lothringen industrial estate in Bochum-Gerthe was planned and implemented by architect Julia Schiewer, who moved in with her team herself. The outdoor facilities were realized in close collaboration with her open space concept partner, landscape architect Dirk Blanik. It was important to Julia Schiewer that the solid construction of the building and the hall structure, which houses the 850 m² logistics area, form a single unit on the outside. The hall is made of black metal thermal wall elements, which are illuminated by skylights in the roof structure, while the office area was built stone on stone and clad with black-coated timber cladding. The large, floor-to-ceiling filigree windows of the mullion and transom façade facing the garden are made of wood with aluminum. In summer, the large window areas can be shaded by external blinds so that no ventilation or air conditioning is required. An open-plan concept was implemented for the 250 m² office space. On the first floor there is a kitchenette, a logistics office and WC rooms including a shower and outdoor terrace. On the upper floor, in addition to the five workstations for the architects' office, there is a meeting room and an archive. The impregnated and visible cement finish of the floor forms a beautiful contrast to the oak staircase with its folded look. While the steps are made of solid wood, the substructure of the side staircase edging is clad with wooden panels in real oak veneer. The building is heated by district heating.

The highlight of the outdoor area is the rainwater retention system, which collects rainwater from the roof surfaces and only releases it into the public drainage system when it rains for a longer period of time. Various reed species can be found in this area, providing a good habitat for birds and water-loving insects. While perennials provide a splash of color from May to October, grasses also present themselves as interesting structures in winter. A dense, four-row hornbeam hedge was planted to provide privacy from the road. Multi-stemmed amber trees grow upwards parallel to the building.

www.freiraumkonzept.de

Photos:

Hoch photo studio, Bochum
Fabian Linden, Bochum
www.fotodesign-linden.de
Open space concept

(Published in CUBE Ruhr Area 01|23)