Kontor 19 im Rheinauhafen

The Kontor 19 office development introduces a distinctively contemporary presence to Cologne’s waterfront district and occupies a prime position between two very different historic structures, the Port Authority building from 1889 and the thirteenth-century Bayenturm (both these buildings have themselves been transformed as part of separate projects by GATERMANN + SCHOSSIG).

The building’s cladding consists of aluminium panels whose warm golden tint was selected to harmonise with the stone of the Bayenturm. The panels are embossed with a pattern designed by artist Peter Bossley which brings a rich degree of texture and depth to the elevations; this effect was achieved using a special anodising technique developed in New Zealand and used here for the first time in Europe.

The building is also notable for its exemplary integrated environmental strategy. A series of glazed panels in the facade contain vents for natural ventilation and other features include concrete core activation and daylight deflection louvres that deflect direct sunlight but reflect ambient light into the building’s interior to reduce the requirement for artificial lighting.

Owner
moderne stadt , Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Städtebaues und der Gemeindeentwicklung mbH

Area
7.230 sqm

Volume
25.441 cbm

Characteristics
16% better than EnEV

Honors
label best architects 07, 2006