Typology office Location Essen Construction Volume GFA approx. 9.400 m², GIV 38.700 m³ Client RAG-Stiftung, Essen Project Development KÖLBL KRUSE, Essen + RAG Montan Immobilien, Essen User RAG-Stiftung and RAG Aktiengesellschaft Realisation 2016-2017 Study 2015 Certificate DGNB Platinum Awards polis Award 2019 – Nomination; Energieeffiziente Nichtwohngebäude in NRW – awarded 2019; Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis / Sonderpreis Digitalisierung – Shortlisted 2019; DAM Preis 2020 – Nomination; Mipim Awards 2020 – Finalist; Bundespreis UMWELT & BAUEN: Sonderpreis Nachhaltigkeit und Innovation 2020 – special price; Architekturpreis Essen 2020 – Award
#joint-stock company #UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein in Essen #roof landscape
The multi-purpose roof landscape compensates for the ground area occupied by the development and offers avaluable space with an identit y of its own at the intersection between the industrial cultural and natural landscape.
The new administrative headquarters of RAG-Stiftung and RAG AG is located at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein in Essen. Positioned to the west of the iconic mining tower and opposite the impressive former coking plant, the new build closes the corner of the grounds at the transition to the bordering forest. The L-shaped building adopts the boundaries of the corner plot and forms a landmark on the square “Weißer Platz” from where a broad set of stairs continues the natural landscape and leads up to the roof garden. Employees can use the raised exterior zone with paths, small terraces, a variety of seating areas and plants in numerous ways while enjoying the fresh air and views of the natural landscape and the former mining grounds. The two office complexes are arranged around two planted courtyards and accessed via a circular corridor. The offices of RAG-Stiftung and RAG AG are accommodated in the north and east wings, whereas the communal facilities, such as the canteen, the conference and plant rooms, are incorporated in the central link.
1 The topography of the building’s roof provides seating areas and views into the surrounding environment.
2 The accessible roof landscape invites passers-by to take a walk.
3 The new build has been carefully embedded on the World Heritage Site at the intersection between the industrial cultural and natural landscape.
The linked passageways in the building are a conceptual feature of the design. The circular corridors of the office areas are supplemented by short-cuts, which span the courtyards. Both wings provide access to the building’s roof. The result is a continuous flow between the inside and outside space, which invites visitors and occupants to experience the building as a whole.
Roof garden
1 access from‘Weißer Platz‘
2 ramp
3 courtyards
4 roof garden with
5 paths and
6 stepped seating areas
7 photovoltaic elements
The new building is based on innovative sustainability standards according to the Cradle to Cradle concept and also received the highest DGNB certification in platinum.
As part of the EU research project ‘Buildings as Material Banks (BAMB)’, the building was a pilot project and the materials used were documented in a ‘Material Passport’.
‘Cradle to Cradle is about celebrating the human footprint, about seeing humanity as an opportunity.
…it’s about developing buildings that are useful, not less harmful.’
Interview with Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart | Co-founder of the Cradle-To-Cradle concept
… read more | Newspaper No. 17 ‘AUF EIN NEUES’
The ambitious sustainability goals were met thanks to the good cooperation with Drees & Sommer Advanced Building Technologies GmbH as the general specialist planner, the client and the developer KÖLBL KRUSE, who committed himself to this course despite a construction period of only 19 months.
Instead of the former meadow, plants, urban gardening and bat boxes have created small biospheres with a high degree of diversity.
“In addition to health and ecological aspects, all materials and components are selected according to their recyclability. As a result, the building will retain the raw material qualities until the end of its lifespan and function as as a resource depot.”
Ursula Feld | DGNB Auditor
The foyer, conference rooms and canteen are located in the joint between the two building components and function as a meeting place for all employees.
Originally, a ‘commercial’ parking garage made of prefabricated elements was to be built opposite the new building. Fortunately, the client was persuaded to follow the motto ‘Every square meter of world heritage is valuable space’. To keep the view of the prominent backdrop of the colliery clear, the parking level was dug in slightly. The roof was laid out as a slightly elevated, greened plateau, which remains accessible to the public via ramps and a polygonal path structure.
