The six-story new building, covering 20,000 square meters, stands as the largest passive house in northern Germany. Serving as the headquarters for the municipal energy service provider Enercity AG, it is located west of Hanover’s city center along the Ihme River. Despite its expansive volume on an irregular pentagonal floor plan, the building presents a surprisingly light and almost transparent appearance, thanks to the ample daylight provided by rows of floor-to-ceiling windows. The recessed lower two floors, with their column-supported entrance area, and the fully surrounding balconies with glass balustrades, emphasize the horizontal lines and contribute to the building’s openness.
The exterior is characterized by ceramic facade panels with a white glazed, ribbed surface. Interior spaces feature light natural wood tones on floors and handrails, complemented by a striking band of stairs in vibrant shades of orange, red, pink, and purple, which span the central atrium. This atrium serves as a central meeting point, housing frequently used functions such as the foyer, conference room, fitness area, and restaurant, all positioned at the glazed southern corner of the building. From the gastro-terrace, an attractive staircase provides a second entrance to the office floors.
The atrium’s asymmetrically designed void is surrounded by galleries, defined as “horizontal and vertical neighborhoods,” offering spaces for interaction and promoting a sense of community. The building’s energy-efficient concept utilizes geothermal energy, photovoltaics, and green electricity, making it an energy beacon for Hanover. A green roof facilitates water retention, and more than 140 charging points for electric vehicles are available, supporting the transition to emission-free mobility. Enercity aims to achieve full climate neutrality by 2040, with the architecture playing a crucial role in this commitment.
What can architecture do for a good workplace?
Stephan Zemmrich: Contemporary society is increasingly individualistic, with a desire to live in harmony with space and its environment. Architecture should create spaces that offer diverse atmospheres, aligned with the principles of a human-centered environment and climate protection goals.
Which functions and/or spaces are most important to you in a workplace?
The qualitative demands on our work environments have become comparable to those of residential spaces. Health and well-being, alongside functional criteria, have become key parameters of a workplace. As technology allows us to perform office tasks from anywhere, a workplace must offer architectural features that are absent in home environments. It’s essential to create meeting points and special spaces to foster emotional connections with employees.
Which materials do you recommend to your clients in construction or interior design?
If we succeed in making people love the buildings they use, they will continue to use them and give meaning to the built environment. Natural materials like wood and clay are instrumental in building this identification and emotional connection.
Client | Hanova |
City | Stuttgart |
Country | Germany |
Architects | haascookzemmrich STUDIO2050 |
Completion | April 2023 |
Sector | |
Project type | New Construction |
Gross floor area m2 | 6,986 |
Number of employees | - |
Lighting | Kartell |
Flooring | - |
Acoustics | - |
Workspace Furniture | Moeding |
Conference Furniture | Arper Catifa |
Lounge Furniture | Vitra, PLY (Swinging Eames) |
Greenery | - |
Technology | - |
Gastronomy | - |