Werksviertel, a new urban district in the east of Munich, is transforming the German city’s former industrial and nightlife quarter into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood. The district once housed factories producing mashed potato flakes, Zündapp motorcycles, and men’s suits, before transforming into a legendary nightlife hub with Kunstpark Ost and Kultfabrik. This spirit of adaptability and change underpins the area’s latest evolution: iCampus Rhenania is an innovative office development designed by the German architecture studio HENN. Strategically located with a view opening towards Munich’s Ostbahnhof (the city’s eastern railway station), the development forms a transition between the historical context and the emerging urban fabric. Its creative workspaces are designed with a strong focus on sustainability and community.
Urban village
iCampus Rhenania consists of two contemporary office buildings that surround a listed 1920s neoclassical villa, the former administrative building of the Rhenania Speditions freight company. The Rhenania project is part of the larger iCampus ensemble in Munich’s Werksviertel, a network of new office buildings (ten in total) and public spaces commissioned by developer and client R&S Immobilienmanagement. The campus plaza, located in the heart of the ensemble, is designed to resemble an “urban village” in keeping with the project’s community approach. Outdoor spaces for cafes and restaurants, wooden benches shaded by trees, and lush green roof terraces create a setting where people can work comfortably and unwind in their free time.
Urban context
iCampus Rhenania harmoniously blends into its urban setting. Along Friedenstrasse, a smaller-scale frontage reflects the proportions of the historic neoclassical villa, easing the transition to the larger iCampus buildings and the wider Werksviertel neighbourhood. Open rooftop pergolas strike a balance between the low-lying terrain near the Ostbahnhof station and the four- to six-storey office buildings that rise towards the heart of the campus. On Friedenstrasse itself, the buildings are set back to frame clear views of the villa and to open welcoming pathways into the interior of the site.
Flexible design
Flexibility lies at the heart of the scheme. The positioning of the building cores allows the floor layouts to be adapted, either by arranging modules individually or by linking them into larger units. With this flexible approach, iCampus Rhenania can accommodate a variety of tenants with differing requirements, from startups to established enterprises.
Ground, second, and fourth floors:
Innovative facade and ceiling systems
iCampus Rhenania’s facades have a matt-gloss black finish developed specifically for the project using Duraflon®, a German-made fluoropolymer coating by HD Wahl GmbH. Known for its durability, weather resistance, and colour stability, the coating reduces maintenance requirements and extends the lifecycle performance of the facade. The coating’s yellow and golden iron-mica blend lends Rhenania a warm appearance, while varying sunlight conditions reveal a shimmering depth across the facade. The facade follows a strict 1.35-metre modular grid, assembled using an agraffe-mounted (concealed clip) ventilated facade system.
“The component-activated ceiling elements supplied by German manufacturer Innogration are a striking example of environmental sustainability and innovative engineering, effectively providing the rooms with district heating and cooling,” says HENN. Known as CEILTEC®, this thermally-activated concrete slab system is connected to Munich’s district heating and cooling network, delivering efficient radiant heating and cooling.
Material finishes
Four main entrance lobbies face the campus plaza. The utilitarian concrete finishes on interior walls and staircases contrast beautifully with the warm brass mailboxes and accents on doors, elevators, and kitchenettes.
