In an industrial area of Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany, Rundzwei Architekten designed a mass timber headquarters for Hald & Grunewald, a company specialising in the sale and rental of forklifts and industrial vehicles. The building is crowned by a translucent canopy crafted from charred larch wood. This impressive architectural feature, dubbed the “Timber Hat”, provides shelter from dirtect sunlight and the elements while also enhancing the building’s visual appeal.
Hald & Grunewald, a third generation independent family business, required a new factory and office building to accommodate the company’s growth, combining its various operations within one dedicated place. To achieve this objective, Rundzwei Architekten examined the company’s way of working to design a building that optimises workflows and enhances the quality of space for all user groups.
A mass timber HQ
Hald & Grunewald’s new 4,900-square-meter HQ is made up of two connected parts, comprising a ten-meter-high factory section and a three-storey office section. The factory hall occupies approximately three quarters of the building, while the remaining quarter houses the offices. The second floor of the office section cantilevers six meters on either side over the lower floors. A wrap-around, hood-like canopy connects the main mass and the transom to form a structural unit, creating a cohesive architectural form.
The building’s construction and support structure make extensive use of mass timber components. In the factory hall, cantilevered glulam beams are supported on glulam columns. The hall’s wooden facade is protected from mechanical damage by a concrete base. CLT floor slabs are supported by glulam beams. The atrium is the only area with a concrete floor that was poured on-site.
The entire building highlights the architectural, aesthetic, and practical design applications of wood. In a busy factory setting, the wooden facade needed to be both durable and low-maintenance. Hald & Grunewald emphasised the importance of showcasing the value and visibility of ecological construction in the company’s new headquarters.
A unique design feature
The Timber Hat’s unique design feature is a broad canopy that encircles its perimeter — the canopy cantilevers out by six meters. A practical structure, it offers protection from direct sunlight and the elements, covers work areas and vehicle rental spaces, and contributes to structural thermal insulation. The canopy’s grid-like design ensures that both the factory and office areas are naturally illuminated.
Rundzwei Architekten made use of two types of larch wood. The canopy’s vertical surfaces are composed of orthogonally screwed wooden lamellas. These lamellas are charred using shou sugi ban, a traditional Japanese method of preserving wood that offers exceptional strength and weather protection. The building’s main wooden facade is made of light, natural larch wood, providing a pleasing contrast.
Creating a convivial atmosphere
In the building’s office section, a light-filled oval atrium houses a serpentine steel staircase that provides an architectural connector between floors. Expansive windows and glass partition walls create a bright and communicative workspace. Exposed wooden beams, wood-panelled acoustic ceilings, and soft furnishings add to the convivial atmosphere.
Sustainability and energy efficiency
Rundzwei Architekten prioritised recyclable and biological building materials, avoiding composite materials and construction foams.
A green roof covers a large part of the roof area. This reduces internal temperatures in warmer months and increases insulation in colder months. The green roof contributes to biodiversity and rainwater harvesting. Rainwater is collected in a cistern and used to irrigate green areas and clean rental equipment. The green roof also provides an outdoor recreational area.
Operable windows provide fresh air, while the moisture-absorbing qualities of wood aid natural air conditioning.
The building is insulated with wood insulation materials, helping to maintain low-energy standards.
Team:
Architects: Rundzwei Architeten
Project Team: Paolo Bradicic, Marc Dufour-Feronce, Sunghoon Go, Asya Güney, Deborah Matter, Marie Nägele, Hannah Reckenthäler, Andreas Reeg, Shadi Zaghloul
Photographer: Gui Rebelo / Estúdio Elefante
