Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten
FUX Festigungs- und Expansionszentrum
best architects 21
office/administrative buildings
Place
Karlsruhe, Germany
Studio
Photos
Brigida Gonzalez
Description
Located to the east of the Alter Schlachthof area of
Karlsruhe, the FUX is adjacent to Messplatz, a square that is used throughout the
year for various events. In line with the expected intensive use of the
building and the industrial history of the area, FUX has been designed as a
contemporary loft building. It displays a rational structure based on a grid of
3.75 m, which allows any desired office size to be realised. The offset of the
upper cubature remains visible in the interior. The resulting expansion of the
building provides space for access cores and communication areas on the
different levels. Voids interconnect the communication areas across all floors.
The efficient organisation of the interior space allows for selective spatial
expansion and passages, which lends the building generosity despite the strict
requirements. The industrial touch is accentuated by the use of semifinished products
and by a few specific highlights in the furniture as a contrast. The ambitious
budgetary goals could be met by optimising the space and cubic capacity,
keeping the choice of industrial materials to a minimum and an adequate
technical concept. Cost-effective rental space in a refined,
unpretentious building shell with loft character can thus be offered to
potential users. The exposed concrete ceilings are suitable for the use of
thermal component activation. In this way, a geothermal heating and cooling
system is employed for heating and air conditioning.