TWO TOWERS
ONE USER
Zwei Hochhäuser in München — München (D)
Two Towers – One User…..how does that work?
We are located in Munich’s Laim district at the intersection of Westendstrasse and Zschokkestrasse. The property situated here has an exposed position at the intersection of the two major traffic arteries and forms the entrance to a large-scale urban development area with primarily residential use and a centrally located park directly behind it. An existing development plan envisages two structural high points on the site which take their cue from the future residential area. This creates a kind of bridgehead to this neighborhood, with the park already visible in the area of the intersection.
However, Stadtwerke München SWM wants to use the site. They want a coherent, clear, and flexible administrative building that is also open the public. The resulting conflict of goals between the urban planning intentions on the one hand and the desire for a compact office building on the other led to the core challenge: Two Towers – One User…..how does that work?
The answer to this question is a green connecting floor on the 4th upper floor of the building, the basic shape of which is reminiscent of a pretzel. This component forms the central connecting and transfer element between the two towers, is equipped with special office uses for all employees, and provides access to the large adjacent and lushly landscaped roof terraces. In addition it divides the building into a base area with high points placed on top. The plinth zone echoes the building heights of the surrounding structures, while the densely planted joint floor accentuates this seam with a horizontal green line. This is further emphasized by the regularly recessed facade at this level. This creates a kind of building joint – a waist – which visually strengthens the idea of the joint floor as a central connecting element and meeting point.
Dialogue, microclimate and sustainability
The densely planted roof terraces on the joint floor and the ground floor zone interspersed with “green islands” not only contribute to improving the microclimatic conditions on the site but also enter into an active dialogue with the urban surroundings. The building appears in use and animated and thus communicative and open.
The facade construction is made of wood and is therefore also visibly sustainable.
