KfW Westarkade
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Jan Bitter (website) Download Original
High-rise extension to the KfW Banking Group's headquarters in Frankfurt
The 15 storey tower, which contains space for 700 new workspaces as well as conference facilities, is integrated into the cluster of KfW's existing buildings.
The high-rise stands between two distinct urban spaces, it appears as a slim slab towards the street and presents a discreet backdrop to the landscape of the Palmengarten.
The client wanted to create a green architectural statement and the building incorporates a range of eco-design features. The most visible of these is the twin-wall facade that uses horizontally pivoting flaps of varying size to regulate the amount of air which flows throw it while maintaining uniform pressure in the cavity. This also enables the occupants to open windows without compromising the buildings environmental performance.
The colours of the ventilation flaps respond to the context, with green used for the section facing the Palmengarten, and red for elevation facing the road.
Radiant slabs and geothermal heating will further help to reduce energy consumption.
Data
- Begun: May 2007
- Completed: Jul 2010
- Floor area: 39,000m2
- Sector: Office
- Total cost: £73M
- Procurement: Competition won in 2004
- Address: Zeppelinallee 4-8, Frankfurt, 60325, United Kingdom
Materials 
Professional Team
- Architect: Sauerbruch Hutton Architects
- Client: KfW Banking Group
- Structural engineer: Werner Sobek
- Energy Consultant: Transsolar Energietechnik
- HVAC consultant: ZWP Ingenieurs
- Electrical consultant: Reuter Rührgartner
- Main contractor: ARGE Züblin
- Main contractor: Bögl
