Westspitze – Office and commercial building
Brigida González

Westspitze – Office and commercial building

a+r Architekten as Architects

“Westspitze” is a seven-storey commercial and office building built in timber hybrid construction, representing one of the first projects of this scale in Germany. It was commissioned by Westspitze Gewerbebau GmbH & Co. KG, in which UmweltProjekt GmbH (a subsidiary of Umweltbank AG Nuremberg) holds a 50 percent stake, while around 10 private investors from Tübingen and the surrounding area hold the remaining 50 percent. The client expressly requested a building with high ecological standards and the use of wood for the supporting structure. In terms of energy efficiency, the KfW 55 standard had to be met; a demanding goal for an office building.

photo_credit Brigida González
Brigida González

At the beginning of the planning process, various challenges arose, starting with the oblique-angled shape of the site. The façade design also required an innovative solution. The use of state-of-the-art thin-film solar panels made it possible to create an energy-generating façade without making it look too technical. The colour-coated PV elements were integrated into a curtain-wall façade made of powder-coated aluminium sheets, oscillating in different colours depending on the incidence of light. This special bronze-coloured shimmer gives the building a unique appearance. 

photo_credit Brigida González
Brigida González

The seven-storey building was constructed with a timber hybrid support structure from the first floor upwards. Steel and concrete were only used where necessary: for example, the floor slabs consist of glued laminated timber elements with a seven-metre span (20cm thick) and a top concrete layer of only 10cm. In order to ensure safe statics, a concrete base with dark clinker facing was designed and a triangular core made of reinforced concrete was integrated into the interior, which houses the staircase and lifts. This “core” provides sufficient stiffening and makes it possible to connect rectangular timber floor slab elements. The entire façade geometry had to be precisely matched to the requirements of the timber supporting structure. A total of approx. 1,100 cubic metres of solid wood from native spruce trees grown in the northern Black Forest and Upper Swabia were used for the exterior walls and floor slabs. 

photo_credit Brigida González
Brigida González

The interior design with 4,500 square metres of commercial areas is also an expression of the climate-friendly construction method. Vertical gardens welcome visitors on every level with a variety of rainforest plants that evoke an immediate sense of well-being and exude a pleasant greenhouse atmosphere. Although you can’t tell from the outside that the building is made of wood, the wood-composite construction method can be experienced inside. Wood was left visible on the underside of the ceilings and the supports along the façade. Floor-to-ceiling glazing allows plenty of daylight into the interiors and creates a feeling of spaciousness. A large hall on the ground floor offers a variety of options for all kinds of events, while a large community room including a terrace is available on the 7th floor. Tenants in the new commercial tower include the renowned World Ethics Institute, consulting companies, medical practices and a provider of co-working spaces.

photo_credit Brigida González
Brigida González

Read story in Deutsch

Project Spotlight
Product Spotlight
News
Key recent projects by Dietrich | Untertrifaller
5 Nov 2024 News
Key recent projects by Dietrich | Untertrifaller

Dietrich | Untertrifaller is an international architecture firm known for its sustainable and contex... More

25 best track light manufacturers
4 Nov 2024 Specification
25 best track light manufacturers

Track lights are versatile lighting systems that offer flexible and focused illumination for various... More

Mixed wood and concrete production hall in Austria nestles neatly in a picturesque village setting
4 Nov 2024 News
Mixed wood and concrete production hall in Austria integrates into its picturesque village setting

DI Simon Moosbrugger Architekt ZT has designed a new production hall facility for Austrian company T... More

Archello houses of the month - October 2024
4 Nov 2024 News
Archello houses of the month - October 2024

Archello has selected its houses of the month for October 2024. This list showcases 20 of the m... More

LMN Architects Unveils Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion
4 Nov 2024 News
LMN Architects Unveils Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion

In a collaboration with Thinc Design, LMN Architects has completed the Seattle Aquarium’s Ocea... More

Ayers Saint Gross Completes Transformative Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at Missouri Botanical Garden
4 Nov 2024 News
Ayers Saint Gross Completes Transformative Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at Missouri Botanical Garden

Ayers Saint Gross has unveiled the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden, t... More

Urban plan for Oostenburg in Amsterdam’s city center combines industrial heritage with urban density
31 Oct 2024 News
Urban plan for Oostenburg in Amsterdam’s city center combines industrial heritage with urban density

The artificial island of Oostenburg is the final large-scale development in Amsterdam’s city c... More

Serene home in Mexico by HW Studio is cocooned in wood and bathed with warm zenithal light
30 Oct 2024 News
Serene home in Mexico by HW Studio is cocooned in wood and bathed with warm zenithal light

Completed in July 2024, Casa Emma was designed by Mexican architectural practice HW Studio. Located... More