Competition-winning hybrid timber tower by AllesWirdGut and Hertl.Architekten unveiled in Düsseldorf

AllesWirdGut and Hertl.Architekten have won a competition for the design and construction of the Technical Administration Building in Düsseldorf, Germany. The 1 million-square-foot winning proposal sees a slender tower of four interlocked blocks resting on a foundational plinth.

At the base of the tower, the scheme’s “green plinth” is envisaged as a continuation of the public spaces flanking the site, with an open, permeable design that creates a connection between the differing levels of the two public spaces. The plinth is also equipped with “intensive planting” on the façade and rooftops, creating what the team called a “little urban oasis” for locals to linger in.

Above the plinth, the tower consists of four interlocking blocks constructed using a timber-concrete hybrid system. Facilities in the tower include a conference center, technical departments, general working and meeting places, recreational facilities including a cafeteria, and large terraces. A series of three-story winter gardens is also incorporated to serve as anchor spaces for the office units.

Renewable sourcing within the scheme includes photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, geothermal energy, and supplementary local heating and cooling at peak times. A high degree of prefabrication will be used for the tower’s construction, while the design's zigzagged façade facilitates photovoltaic and ventilation elements to provide energy production and passive shading.

Landscaping elements incorporated into the development include climate-resilient and wind-resistant tree species and densely-growing climbing plants. Through this, the team hopes to “interweave the building with its surroundings, from the courtyard to the roof terrace.”

Having seen off competition from 46 teams for the commission, AllesWirdGut and Hertl.Architekten expect the scheme to be completed by 2029.