A twelve-storey high-rise tower with technical floors, adjoined by a two-storey base structure and inner courtyard—this was the foundation for caspar.'s revitalization project in Golzheim. The Cologne architecture firm comprehensively renovated, expanded, and reimagined the 1973 building, introducing meticulously designed exterior spaces and a distinctive, shimmering façade that captures the eye from every angle.

In 2019, the architects collaborated with property developer Momeni Group, residents, local leaders, and fellow planners in the "Westlicher Kennedydamm" workshop to establish a vision for the neighbourhood's future. The goal: accommodate diverse needs and uses. Originally designed with remarkable foresight by Philipp Holzmann AG in 1973, the former Nordsternversicherung headquarters had aged considerably and required revitalization and reimagining. The brief was clear: introduce greater comfort, sustainability, increased transparency toward the city, and generous green and open spaces. The existing concrete structure and stairwell cores were thoughtfully preserved. To accommodate five office units, the base building received an additional storey crowned with a roof terrace. The expansive lobby—relocated from the high-rise to the low-rise structure—serves as the building's true heart, connecting both access cores and the inner courtyard while fostering high-quality spatial experiences and clear wayfinding. The twelve floors of the tower each accommodate a single office tenant with direct access to a windprotected, landscaped sky garden at its peak. Office layouts follow a flexible system, scaling from private cellular offices to open-plan environments. The entirely reimagined façade commands attention in the urban landscape: refined and transparent, yet clearly articulated through subtle horizontal lines and offset vertical aluminium bands that emphasize each floor. The high-performance double-skin façade, paired with floor-to-ceiling windows and fully upgraded building systems, drives sustainable operations. Integrated motorized shading in the cavity space and operable windows in every axis ensure climate control. Photovoltaic modules integrated into the stairwell façade further optimize the building's energy independence. The project has earned WiredScore's Platinum certification, reflecting its exceptional digital infrastructure, intelligent connectivity, and forward-thinking design.

www.studiocaspar.com

Photography:
caspar./HGEsch
www.hgesch.de
Momeni Group/caspar.

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 04|25)