Herkules Machine Factory, Pittsburgh, USA

 

 

Articulated as a well-engineered glass box, the building houses the US administrative headquarters of the Herkules Group, a world leader in the manufacture of roll machining equipment. Offices and meeting rooms are organised in a U-shape configuration around the central service spine, with scenic views of the neighbouring woodland area on its west facing side. Sun glare is subtly managed by semi transparent screens.

The reception area, double height lobby and stairwell organise the building's south facing composition, completed externally with a striking roof sign in perforated mesh. This announces and locates the development in its surroundings while simultaneouly softening the visual impact of the mechanical plant equipment sited on the roof.

The sculptural configuration of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems - all of which are powered by a subterranean geothermal heat-well adjacent to the building - reflects the project's industrial aesthetic. This can also be seen in the elegant folded steel plate staircase at the front of the building, which was fabricated by the client; and in the use of translucent glass bricks, which illuminate the central service spine housing the technical infrastructure and kitchen.

Mixed-use Complex, Obernburg

The development responds sensitively yet assuredly to its surroundings, as can be seen in how the entrance block massing complements that of the nearby clock tower situated within the old city wall. Moreover the building's carefully scaled fenestration echoes that of the neighbouring properties and its ground floor colonnade animates the development at street level.

Internally, three over-sized concrete column blocks disseminate the building's heft, while also functioning as conduits for the various technical services, all of which are easily accessible. Taken as a whole, this structural arrangement delivers a series of uninterrupted floor plans, so offering end-users a high degree of flexibility in the internal arrangement of the spaces.

The development's clarity of layout is equally on show in how the main circulation area, located within the atrium, serves as both a reception hall for the offices on the first floor, and a lobby area for the apartments on the upper level. Within this central volume, the steel mesh balustrading complements the exacting aesthetic of the untreated cast in-situ concrete. In addition, lacquered plaster is used where tactile contact comes into play, as with the monolithic looking bridge above the entranceway, which connects the office floor areas located across the building's two main blocks. This link functions as a 'visual pin', its form and solidity adding depth and drama to the atrium design. 

Country Hotel, Pittsburgh (USA)

This scheme for a luxury hotel takes full advantage of its scenic location, some 80 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, USA, delivering panoramic views of the Pennsylvanian countryside. 

 

The hotel’s strong planar design grounds the building in its surroundings. Two monolithic slabs articulate a comprehensive podium on which three slender floor plates are stacked and setback, so delivering a generous ground floor terrace to the hotel’s high-end bar and restaurant. 

 

The lighter floor plates above, housing the various bedroom suites, appear to float, their refined horizontality accentuated by deeply inset full height glazing on all four sides. 

 

 

Doctor´s Practice, Frankfurt am Main

A minimal palette of floating white planes and indirect lighting generates a calm, orderly ambience within this Frankfurt medical practice. 

 

The planar composition is considered and measured, with floating ceilings defining the central corridor, entranceway and reception area - and in so doing disseminating an elongated cross, a subtle reference to the medical profession.

 

 

Throughout the scheme the installation delivers a mild compression of space, resulting in a cohesive, gentle aesthetic running throughout the practice.

Advertising Agency, Frankfurt am Main

A wall, a ceiling plane and a block organise and define this interior solution for a Frankfurt advertising agency. The block functions as a utility node, containing the reception, server room, kitchen and washroom. The wall demarcates the main work area from the entrance; absorbs extraneous noise from the busy street; and houses a multi-folding screen, used when more privacy is required. The ceiling plane acts as a spatial interface between the block and wall, adding depth and drama to the composition as a whole. In essence, these simple rectilinear forms disseminate a sculptural configuration that encapsulates the clarity and flexibility of the loft-style working environment.

Colour Hotel, Frankfurt am Main

The project entailed a complete re-branding and internal renovation of an existing five-storey hotel.

The new branding is comprehensive, the logo design being applied to a variety of end uses - from an illuminated sign box on the outside of the building to stationery and coffee cups, key wallet holders, visiting cards, and the semi cryptic information board in reception.

Throughout the scheme, the clean white aesthetic underpins the accent colour concept. Each of the five floors is assigned its own colour, selectively used for soft furnishings and for the over-sized graphics for room numbers and room types that animate the corridors. An additional wall graphic in each bedroom disseminates the five-colour narrative. The curtains are also colour-coded, so enabling the hotel’s front façade to function as a giant billboard.

In the lobby, the design treatment is both measured and relaxed. A bespoke lime green sofa with colour-coded cushions delivers a contemporary and stylish focal point; while housed in a large wall mounted lightbox, fashioned as an artwork, a series of seminal travelling quotes, from Goethe and Oscar Wilde, entertain guests and visitors alike.

Pavilion Siegen 

Pavilion Siegen articulates an assured yet subtle compression of space, framing views of the lake and the local topography. The building’s tectonic rigour is palpable, with its seemingly gravity defying configuration enabling the floor plate and ceiling to cantilever some 6m beyond the lakeshore.

The scheme is both a weekend fishing retreat and a garage for three classic cars. A toilet and washroom facility is also included, as is a storage unit for the client’s angling equipment. Detailing is measured throughout - from the integrated lighting to the fully glazed internal area.

A strict proportional grid organizes the composition: the floor plan measures 12x12m; the interior, 9x9m; and the oversized steel doors, 3x3m - these were manufactured by the client's engineering company, as were the bespoke spindles on which they pivot, allowing each door, weighing 340 kilos, to be opened with a push of a single finger. The grid template was also used to configure the shuttering joints and fenestration divisions.

Structurally, the cantilevered platform comprises a series of precast concrete slabs, tied back to massive drum foundations. A finishing layer of in-situ concrete gives the floor surface an aesthetic uniformity; the walls and ceiling were similarly cast in-situ. Integral to the project is the concrete's carefully formulated off-white finish which refines the pavilion's dialogue with the surrounding terrain.

From an environmental standpoint, the use of special non-oiled shuttering ensured that the lake’s fish population came to no harm during the construction process.

Penthouse Wirth 

The distinctive, contemporary appearance of the penthouse emanates from its thoughtful reworking of the surrounding roofing vernacular together with its choice of cladding - titanium zinc tiles. The result is a classic juxtaposition of old and new.

 

Conceptually, two orthogonal volumes articulate the build, generating the views and quality of light. At the front, a large dormer window with floor to ceiling glazing provides morning sunlight to the living areas. At the back, a generous open terrace, accessed via large-format windows, takes full advantage of the evening sun. Within the main design a series of wall panels allows for more intimate spaces to be created, if so required.

As a way of further enhancing the loft style living experience, the bespoke glazing to the outside area can be folded and slid back into the adjoining wall, so delivering unobstructed views of the Frankfurt skyline and the hills beyond.

In addition to the work undertaken on the penthouse, the five-storey house was fully renovated, both internally and externally, as part of the commission.

Villa Stolberg, 
Frankfurt 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bold architectural landscaping in fair-faced white concrete complements the scale and massing of this early twentieth century residence. 

 

The project’s supersized cast in-situ concrete wall sets the scene, running the entire length of the property, its depth and tectonic stature counterbalanced at the rear of the villa with a substantial subterranean garage with room for three cars. This, in turn, provides the foundation for the outside terrace and ground floor extension, the latter forming part of a new, open plan, L-shaped kitchen and dining area, as well as offering up a sizable first floor terrace for the master bedroom. 

 

At the ground floor level the over-sized bespoke glass doors and the same oak flooring running inside and out ensure that much sought after connectivity with the outside spaces. 

 

Restoration work within the villa’s internal lightwell is thorough and respectful - and, in the case of its dramatic sky vista, enhanced by a frameless, neatly detailed glazing unit.

Penthouse Simon, Königstein 

This visually striking penthouse, which sits atop a three storey late nineteenth century residence in Königstein, utilises a substantial steel A frame to maximise its volumetric potential. The result is an open-plan, column free space, 7m high at its apex.

A mezzanine floor provides the main sleeping area. Below, three large folding wall panels enable the open plan format to be subdivided into a series of smaller, more intimate spaces. Dark slate flooring adds depth and texture to the clean white aesthetic. 

The visual impact of technology is kept to a minimum courtesy of a comprehensive computer controlled system neatly concealed within the fabric of the interior. This manages the dwelling’s heating and lighting requirements, delivering, as part of its programme, fourteen different illumination scenarios via a series of bespoke lamps, subtly integrated within the full-length cupboards and window niches.

 

Externally, the apartment's new fenestration sensitively complements the building's facade, which is protected by an historic preservation order.

Villa Wiesbaden 

 

With its dramatic high pitched roof, this imposing villa, built in 1904, presented the practice with a significant challenge: to deliver a contemporary extension that would provide additional space over three levels, while not being overpowered by the scale and massing of the existing structure.

As part of the building programme, the villa's original facade and internal floor plan were carefully reinstated. This process involved painstakingly removing more than 80 years of minor alterations, all conducted in close consultation with the local preservation authority - the dwelling having been issued with an historic preservation order prior to works commencing. 

 

 

In addition to its spacious, light-filled interiors, the extension's robust orthogonal form delivers a private outside area for each of the villa's three apartments, comprising two south-facing balconies on levels one and two, and a sunken courtyard for the lower ground floor. These vantage points reinstate the garden as an integral part of the property, as does a communal south-facing window elegantly framing views of the garden’s oak tree. 

Intergal to the development is as how old and new are subtly bound together via the site's entrance datum level. This sets the depth of the base on which the contemporary block sits. A finishing layer of concrete applied to both the villa's pedestal and the extension's base reinforces the shared plinth motif.

 

 

Penthouse H 

This late 19th century top floor apartment has been completely transformed, resulting in a voluminous, open plan living area. New roof glazing delivers a generous source of natural light, while continuously changing sky vistas ensure a contemplative connection with the outside world.

Integral to the apartment design is the reconfiguration of a previously inaccessible section of the loft, now functioning as a gallery and workspace, with an adjoining terrace offering impressive views of the Frankfurt skyline. These read as one continuous space, courtesy of the striking glazed doorway design and the same slate flooring running inside and out.

Throughout the scheme the slate floor adds depth and texture to the clean white aesthetic, while the classic grid layout facilitates an exacting spatial template for all the interior furniture. 

Apartment K

 

 

Articulated as a transparent vertical plane, the bespoke glass screen dramatically heightens the sculptural clarity of the ensuite bathroom while facilitating an elegant juxtaposition between the bathroom's cool white aesthetic and the bedroom's warm oak flooring. An exacting precision is evident throughout.

 

 

 

In the guest washroom, a right angle mirror system generates an infinite perspective, its impact heightened by the atmospheric lighting concealed within the floating ceiling. High quality detailing and smooth white surfaces add to the overall effect.

Apartment S

South facing glazing orientates the layout of this office-to-residential conversion, with two large internal blocks zoning the apartment into three well-defined areas, as well as co-ordinating its indirect lighting and providing a generous amount of storage space. The horizontality of the block design is neatly counterbalanced by the verticality of the multiple opening panel configuration.

A glass balcony, set off from the main living area, provides the necessary inside-outside dynamic, while the internal bathroom is detailed with a large glazed aperture offering impressive views of the building’s garden. The quality of light and legibility of circulation together with the solid oak flooring create a sophisticated ambience throughout.      

Chapel of Rest 

This winning module design for a chapel of rest, as selected by the city of Frankfurt, uses light as a primary material, channelling its ethereal properties and its ability to evoke transcendence and the sublime. Shorn of excess, the scheme’s elemental composition effortlessly generates a sense of serenity and reflectivity.

Southern daylight, via a vertical slot in its south facing elevation, gently guides the mourners into the chapel. Indirect overhead light, filtered through the lantern like structure, softly illuminates the proceedings.

Initially, the plan is to build four of these non-denominational chapels, with the aim being to extend the design to all cemeteries throughout the municipality of Frankfurt.

Centralstation

The Centralstation, in Darmstadt, is a cultural venue housed in what once was an electricity generating station, built in 1889. The new scheme is comprehensive and well articulated, comprising a main hall for rock concerts on the ground floor, a viewing gallery on the mezzanine level, with a lounge bar directly above, and a concert chamber on the upper floor for jazz and classical recitals.

A bespoke mobile bar, finished in oak veneer, services the ground floor's range of activities. Four service points, integrated into the floor surface, support this concept: each node contains water, waste, electricity and IT connections. To facilitate circulation, a new staircase, constructed out of 4mm steel plating, and detailed with integrated lighting, connects the ground floor to the mezzanine level and the cocktail lounge bar above. This latter space is fitted with a frameless glass wall in order to provide physical and acoustic autonomy from the main hall below. A translucent finish to the upper half of the glazing delivers a sense of privacy when standing and views downstairs when seated. The furniture in the bar is bespoke, its horizontal accent contrasting with the lounge’s long linear configuration.

The concert chamber on the upper floor is accessed via the main stairwell situated in the entrance lobby. The exposed aluminum roof structure animates the space, as well as acknowledging the building's industrial past. Preserving the volumetric integrity of these spaces, while making them fit for purpose as a live venue, was fundamental in the development of the overall design. To this end three subtle architectural elements have been introduced: first, a mobile stainless steel bar, featuring a backlit onyx marble inlay; secondly, a stage and its backdrop, both crafted in selected veneer, the latter housing the integrated technical services; and finally, a series of storage units to provide secure space for the seating.

A key detail of the storage design is its multi-folding doors, serving as acoustic panels when so required. Externally, the doors are configured in stainless steel; internally, they are clad in a sound absorption carpet, the quality of the hall's acoustics being significantly altered when the doors are opened and extended. In addition, the vibrancy of the carpet’s colour alludes to the panel's functional importance, as well as visually contrasting with the hall’s industrial aesthetic. 

12 x 12

This bespoke light fitting illuminates Villa S, a cast in-situ concrete house in Schriesheim, southwest Germany.

The lamp delivers both internal and external coverage; works within the structural parameters of the concrete ceilings; and complements the architecture’s exacting, pared-back aesthetic.

The outer casing (12cm x 12cm x 8cm) is milled from a solid block of aluminium; internally it comprises 49 1W LEDs mounted on a platina plate, combined with a highly polished stainless steel reflector and a specially satinized plexi-glass cover. The result is a low energy, high performance lamp that delivers an even spread of emitted light. 

Light Well Siegen 

A circular reflecting pool subtly transforms a non-descript light well at WadrichSiegen’s HQ in Burbach, in Germany. Situated between the production area and the canteen, the artwork, which is configured within a golden section configuration, animates the space, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, revitalizing what was once a drab internal void. The residual area of the atrium is filled with fractured grey gravel, so contrasting with the smooth surface of the light installation.

The impact of the scheme draws upon three interrelated factors: the design’s materiality - polished stainless steel; the blue LED lighting, which indirectly illuminates the surface - the colour corresponding to the company’s corporate blue; and the amount of rain water that accumulates within the pool - the greater the volume of water, the greater the refraction of light.

During daylight the clouds are reflected in the surface; with the onset of night the LED lighting delivers an ethereal light, the surrounding glazing generating multiple reflections. Although only 14cm deep, the illuminated pool appears to have indefinable depth. Water and light orchestrate the work, resulting in a myriad of visual configurations, no two days ever being the same.

School Library, Frankfurt am Main

This new library facility for the historically protected Pestalozzi primary school in Frankfurt is inspired by the school’s philosophy and the building’s architectural quality. The project responds to the school’s innovative educational spirit while respecting the fabric of the existing building, designed in 1928, by the acclaimed architect Martin Elsaesser. The result: four stand alone pieces, two circular and two rectangular, in colours recognized for their ability to enhance and stimulate learning.

























The designs have been well received, not only for their playfulness but also for their practicality. Each piece is comfortable, child-friendly and robust, comprising a wooden sub-structure covered with polyurethane foam, then coated with a patented rubberised skin, specified for its high durability.

In addition, the furniture's spatial flexibility has been well received by teachers and pupils alike: the large circular piece, for example, can either be the scene of an intimate ‘den’ atmosphere or part of a wider class activity - the children take the lead.

Light installation - Frankfurt Luminale 

This temporary artwork, titled 'water lilies', presents an allegorical play on the sensitive dynamic between nature and technology. The project comprises three underwater mobile light installations that respond to fluctuations in the water current within the river Main. In calm conditions, the light is ethereal, serene and contemplative; in heavier waters, ephemeral, shimmering and flickering. 

The Frankfurt Luminale is one of the world’s longest running festivals of light. The event runs in parallel with the city’s Light + Building exhibition which regularly attracts international architects, designers and lighting engineers.

Sliding Gate, Herkules Machine Factory 
Meuselwitz

A 10.8m cantilevered sliding gate articulates the main entrance to the Herkules Industrial complex in Meuselwitz. The finely engineered nature of the bespoke design, operating as it does on a counter-balancing system, reflects the precision and detailing which the Herkules group brings to its production of industrial roll grinders.

The gate is elegantly machined in a single sheet of stainless steel; special concealed fixings ensure its form and finish disseminate an elemental clarity. The company logo is embedded within the design, laser cut from a solid block of aluminum.

Laser technology is also utilized in the gate’s electronic closing procedure, any hindrance encountered causing it to stop. A secondary opening, with an integrated video surveillance and intercom, provides pedestrian access.