The Friedrich und Karl office complex is creating a new gateway to Cologne in the northern part of the city. The urbanistically sophisticated overall complex is the result of a development process lasting several years, which culminated in a competition coordinated with politicians and administrators and produced an urban design and architecture of international standing.
The pioneering design of the complex, consisting of three self-sufficient construction phases, is consistently oriented toward sustainability in all respects. The energy required is obtained from geothermal energy via suction and absorption wells, thanks to the location's proximity to the Rhine. The use of a wood-hybrid construction method, in which the office floors, including the facades, are manufactured in the factory, means that significant amounts of CO2 can be bound in the building in the long term. The innovative mobility concept takes into account the significantly increased demand for bicycles, e-bikes, and cargo bikes and enables a reduction in parking spaces thanks to optimal public transport connections. The individual buildings are connected by a pergola and a continuous basement. The spacious outdoor areas are landscaped and not built over, allowing rainwater to be collected and seep away on the property. All roofs, including the connecting pergola, will be equipped with photovoltaic systems, which will generate electricity for heating and cooling the offices using heat pumps, making them largely self-sufficient. As the roof areas are also greened, rainwater is retained on the roof and natural evaporation is promoted.
The 100% rented space also offers room for training purposes, conference rooms, and a company canteen. Friedrich und Karl significantly exceeds the federal government's requirements for primary energy consumption in its own new buildings, which are already well above the legal requirements. This new location in the Niehl district is thus becoming a real flagship project for the future of office and public authority construction.
