Lampenwelt Office Building / herbertarchitekten

Architects: herbertarchitekten
Location: Schlitz, Germany
Client: Lampenwelt GmbH & Co. KG
Structural Engineering: IPB Statik
Project area: 4,600 sqm
Project year: 2010
Photographs: Photoplusgraphic

herbertarchitekten were asked to design the new headquarter of europes biggest lighting-online-store. The challenge was to transform a former school building, const- ructed in the 1960s, into a representative office building.

Due to the huge demand of space, the original flat hip roof was removed and a new level in timber frame construction was placed on top.

Naturally, the modernized building fulfills actual german regulati- ons for energy saving in buildings. Inside the existing formal order was kept. Stairs and corridors remained, the former classrooms were transformed into offices.

The street elevation was heavily modified. A new extension hou- ses the entrance on ground floor. On first floor there ́s a repre- sentative meeting room.

Additionally, small rectangular windows. the glas covered with coloured and transparent foil, are scattered above the facade.

Inside a new steel-constructed staircase, with 8cm thick stairs of natural stone, combines the ground and first floor. Staircase as well as the extension and the foil-covered windows are lit spectacularly with colour-changing LEDs.

Architects and client decided to create a modern but decent fee- ling inside – realized through a combination of black granite, glass, white walls and ceilings.