Skewed, sensible. Doubled, united.
The TWIN CUBES make a bold statement about the transformation of the are surrounding Hansapark in Düsseldorf. Located at the Heerdter Lohweg 53, the ensemble consists of two office buildings – or “cubes” – slightly rotating out of the orthogonal grid, with five and six stories respectively. One of the twins is occupied by Deutsche Rückversicherung AG and VöV Rückversicherung KöR, with portions of the building leased to the Verband öffentlicher Versicherer e.V.; the other has been sold to ÖRAG Rechtsschutzversicherung.
Hansapark, in Düsseldorf's Heerdt district, is at the beginning of a major transformation. Ship propellers were manufactured in the site until 1978, after which the area continued to evolve steadily. The first cornerstone of its sustainable transformation is the headquarters of the Deutsche Rückversicherung and VöV Rückversicherung, designed by caspar. Following a successful architectural competition, caspar. was commissioned in 2021 to revise an existing design, including the facades and interiors. While the original concept envisioned a single freestanding building, caspar. developed it into the TWIN CUBES concept.
A Subtle Twist
The slight shift in the position of the two volumes creates a green framework around the ensemble, while the widening of the space along Willstätterstrasse establishes a distinctive corner condition. Set back from the street the buildings give the forecourt greater spatial depth. Designed as an inviting public space with planted islands, trees, and integrated green seating. This public character is reinforced by “The Cube” café and its outdoor seating.
Each twin has its own entrance area – one double-height, the other single-story. Although both buildings sit above a shared underground parking garage, a gap remains between them. Rather than separating the two volumes, this space becomes a connecting element through the design of the surrounding landscape.
In Motion
With terraces and landscaped areas, the courtyards provide inviting spaces for relaxation and interaction, while the roof gardens planned for both buildings introduce an additional layer of urban landscape. Organized around the courtyards and three circulation cores, the floor plans accommodate a wide range of workplace configurations, from individual offices to open-plan environments. The TWIN CUBES’ energy concept is based on an intelligent combination of active and passive measures. A distinctive feature is the champagne-colored photovoltaic elements precisely integrated into the light natural-stone facades. Visually, the slender glass modules blend harmoniously into the refined overall composition. Together with additional photovoltaic panels installed on the roofs, they also ensure consistently high energy yields over the long term. Energy for heating and cooling is supplied by geothermal systems combined with heat pumps, reducing the need for fossil fuels to an absolute minimum.
Interior Concept
Following an analysis of its internal processes and requirements, Deutsche Rück commissioned caspar. to design the interiors as contemporary, flexible office environments capable of responding to the evolving needs of employees and tenants in line with New Work principles.
The interior fit-out encompasses a wide range of spatial typologies across all floors – from public areas such as the foyer, café, and restaurant on the ground floor to conference zones, meeting rooms, and a large event hall. We conceived the foyer not only as a representative reception and entrance space, but also as a place for interaction and encounter – a principle that extends to the restaurant and café.
Flexibility was also central to the restaurant concept, which is divided into a variety of zones: large communal tables for groups, smaller tables for conversation, workbenches, high tables for shorter stays, and lounge areas for lingering. The same principle was applied to the café. Combined with planting and the mobile, modular furniture designed by caspar., this zoning creates a natural mix of dining, socializing, informal work, interaction, and events.
Across the office floors on levels three to five, a diverse range of work environments has been created, including open-plan workspaces, group and retreat rooms, creative areas, and dedicated facilities such as coffee bars, think tanks, and executive zones. The design concept is based on the principles of “light,” “dark,” and “color”. These create spatial distinctions between openness and interaction, focused work, teamwork, and creative exchange. Light- and dark-stained oak, black profiles, natural daylight, and carefully applied corporate colors define a high-quality material palette that is warm yet clear and restrained.
The workplace program is complemented by dedicated co-working areas, living areas, kitchenettes, and phone booths. Roof terraces and outdoor spaces are conceived as places for retreat and recreation, offering additional settings for informal meetings and collaborative work. The courtyard extends the restaurant into the open air, while the café forecourt is furnished with its own dedicated outdoor furniture.
Alongside the interior design, a comprehensive signage and graphic system was developed for Building 1. Derived from the architectural concept of the TWIN CUBES, it establishes a consistent visual language throughout the building. Double frames, custom-designed pictograms, typography, and varying line weights form a distinctive graphic identity. The system encompasses room, floor, and stairwell signage, floor directories, the underground car parking garage, lockers, and furniture, as well as graphics applied to glass surfaces and digital touchpoints. The logos for the café and restaurant were also developed from this design language and conceived for use across both analog and digital media, including integration into an app. Together, analog and digital layers of information combine wayfinding and corporate identity into a coherent overall presence.
