Marc Cain Headquarters and Outlet Store

In the rural surroundings of Bodelshausen two spotless white structures stand out - the Factory Outlet and the new headquarters of the fashion company Marc Cain. The clear white architecture and the green environment have a mutually enhancing effect and form a prestigious platform for Marc Cain fashion. Modern design in spotless white is the key to the whole complex. The highest demands with regard to design, quality, materials, state-of-the-art production techniques and optimum fit are the company’s mission. The architecture of both buildings incorporates the company’s philosophy. Its pureness and naturalness is impressive. The new headquarters’ modern structure with its façade of white ALUCOBOND® and glass comprises a light-flooded atrium 13 meters in height with a glass roof, a show room and staff canteen and spans 12.000 m². The penthouse on the third floor protrudes impressively above the lower floors and seems to float over the whole structure. The dynamic shape enhances the impact of the existing lake. Gently curved elements closely follow the building’s contours. The showroom complies with the highest requirements. An important part of the concept is to enter into a dialogue with nature – generously proportioned doors offer easy access to the exterior world, and on the upper floors there are inviting leafy patios. The facilities are high-tech, air-conditioned, and elaborately detailed: LED-lights, acoustical ceilings serving as cooling elements, automatic sun-blinds. With regard to energy, the building demonstrates highest possible efficiency with regenerative waste heat recovery. The single-storey, compact factory outlet is situated in an exposed position on the site and its two wide open sides create a light and friendly appearance. The visual axis leads the eye from the entrance through the sales room to the green shop-window at the rear of the building. The surrounding upstands and massive roofs encompass the different projecting and recessed parts of the volume and the façade on the second floor. The heating system in the building is supplied by long distance heating. Free-standing constructions and adaptable built-in components facilitate flexible use of the sales room without columns. Air-conditioning in the sales room and Fashion- Café, visitor-friendly and barrier-free accessibility and the generous design of the whole outlet ensure both staff and customers benefit from the quality of the architecture. Project: Headquarters & Factory Outlet Marc Cain, Bodelshausen, Germany Architect: Hank + Hirth Freie Architekten, Eningen u. A, Germany Interior Design: Marc Cain Interior, 72411 Bodelshausen Fabricator/Installer: Fa. Wittenauer, Sasbach, Germany (Headquarters) & Schneider Fassaden GmbH & Co. KG, Rheinstetten, Germany (Outlet) Year of Construction:2010 (Headquarters) - 2008 (Outlet) Product: ALUCOBOND® solid colours Pure White Photos: HANK + HIRTH, Freie Architekten