The pair of free-form volumes responds to the landscape qualities of the site – part of the Rhine’s former flood meadows, which are becoming increasingly developed. Further, the new buildings acknowledge the sculptural characteristics of the neighbouring twelve-storey 1960s high-rise, while their vivid polychromy reinforces the organic character of the original situation.

The free-flowing outlines of the buildings also permit extremely efficient office layouts with a maximum of flexibility. Both buildings are structured around three cores, each of which offer an attractive entrance area. This allows the floors to be divided as required into independently leasable areas. The varying depth of the floor plate enables spaces that are suited to a range of layouts – be they individual, combination, or open-plan offices.

Full-height openable casements and variably printed solar screening panels allow both the lighting level and the view out at each workplace to be controlled individually by the user.

Proximity to the Rhine enables the use of groundwater alone to run the buildings’ heating and cooling systems. The overall result is an office environment with an atmosphere of its own, which offers a top-quality working environment while achieving a high degree of energy- and cost-efficiency and – in comparison with conventional office buildings – a halving of the primary energy requirement.