The transformation of a rectangle

Göpel Electronic’s research and development building is situated in the nearest neighbourhood of two other buildings which belong to Göpel electronic, also designed by wurm+wurm. Due to the situation of the construction site in the flood area of the Saale it was necessary to elevate the structure. As it was impossible to reach the required number of parking places in the open space, the opportunity was provided to place the parking and a sheltered entrance area underneath the building. The shape of the volume is developed from a rectangle with a size 15 m x 40 m, a classic pattern of a floor plan for standard offices. This floor plan is transformed from level to level. It becomes a parallelogram alternating on each level, so that by top view an X is created. The staggered and crosswise layered volumes are supported 16 trapezoidal columns when there is an overhang. The negative-space which is generated by the delayed volumes is formed to open terraces. The façade gets is specific look by the brushed structure of ALUCOBOND® naturAL. The light is reflected and absorbed and thus creates interesting effects- Project: Göpel Electronic, Jena Architekc: wurm + wurm architekten ingenieure GmbH, Bühl Fabricator: Wittenauer GmbH, Sasbach Construction: Special glued construction Year of Construction: 2009 Product: ALUCOBOND® natural Brushed