Huckauf engineers are sought worldwide for high-end solutions in industrial production. Professional networks and close-knit teamwork are fundamental to integrating diverse expertise. This identity as "professional networkers" needed to find architectural expression in their new Langenfeld headquarters. René Brouns and his team at Schwarzgold Architekten developed a concept that translates both their global collaboration methods and on-site team dynamics into the building's design.

The office building is wrapped in a striking black metal façade of perforated trapezoidal sheets, punctuated by two decisive cutouts—one framing the entrance, the other opening to the roof terrace. Fresh turquoise accents highlight these interventions, creating an elegant contrast to the dark envelope. The perforated metalwork maintains transparency while delivering reliable summer heat protection, reinforced by a UV-resistant backing layer and motorised shutters that manage both solar gain and glare. Fully closed, the façade presents an entirely seamless, monolithic surface.

The building's centerpiece is a generously daylit central atrium. All spaces connect through this hub, creating internal "networks" of movement and visual connection. The atrium functions as both meeting hub and event venue, while organising the vertical circulation of the two-storey structure. A single-flight staircase, topped by a skylight band, anchors the atrium's focal role and infuses the space with distinctive character.

To preserve visual cohesion throughout, Schwarzgold Architects extended their vision to the interior design. The objective was to sustain the building's clean architectural language indoors. The architects personally curated every furnishing piece—and many they redesigned entirely. The built-in cabinetry in the ground-floor staff office, the upper-floor coffee station, workstations, filing systems, and the executive desk all emerged from meticulous design development. Recurring wooden accents and distinctive lighting fixtures introduce colour notes that soften the linear aesthetic and invite warmth into the streamlined spaces.

www.schwarzgold-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Gregor Theune
www.gregortheune.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|22)