1/1

PROJECTS / RWE HEADQUARTERS

First Double-skin Facade Office Tower in the World

The floor-to-ceiling glazing of the double-skin facade naturally illuminates and ventilates the offices. A controllable sunshade made of aluminum louvers is weather-protected and suspended in the floor-to-ceiling space between the facades. On the inside, there is a textile glare protection screen. The double-skin glass facade reduces wind pressure on the interior windows, allowing them to be manually opened even on the 30th floor for ventilation. Since 1999, the RWE building has also served as an annex of the renowned Museum Folkwang in Essen, hosting exhibitions of contemporary artists. The installation "Einwurf" by artist Mira Schumann features a basketball court that incorporates the space and architecture into the concept. Employees and visitors are encouraged to interactively engage with the installation.

RWE Headquarters, Westenergie Turm in Essen von Architekt Christoph Ingenhoven

The connection between the representative levels is provided by staircases cut into the circular floor plan, which connect five floors in the upper part of the high-rise within an open atrium. The staircases are constructed with steel stringers and open risers, with steps covered in natural stone on the ground floor and glass on the upper floors. The glass panels are fitted with stainless steel handrails. The cylinder of the high-rise rests on the platform of the garden floor, which accommodates large spaces such as the employee restaurant and conference rooms. The clever modulation of the existing terrain connects the entrance and garden levels. Gardens are a key design element, present throughout the building in courtyards and on rooftop terraces. The exterior features a large lake that replicates the course and mouth of an Alpine river, extending up to the building’s facade. In front of the lake is a terrace used as an outdoor area for the employee restaurant during the summer. The rooftop gardens, sheltered from the wind by the glass facade screen, are planted with winter-hardy bamboo.