The Box . Hannover

Revitalizing Urban Fabric with Clinker Elegance The transformation of the former Kaufhof building in Hannover by Herzog & de Meuron is a masterful exercise in urban integration and architectural innovation. Situated at the juncture of the expansive city center and the intimate, historic old town, the project reimagines a monolithic structure into a vibrant, multifunctional urban component. The design respects the building's historical context while introducing a contemporary facade that mediates between the past and future. The new facade is a dual-layered composition, with an inner transparent glass envelope maximizing daylight for deep floor plans, particularly benefiting the vocational school spaces. The outer layer, a self-supporting clinker facade, features reddish, partly glazed slips that echo Hannover's brick architecture, seamlessly integrating the building into its surroundings. The facade's varying depths and projections create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, softening the building's massiveness and enhancing its urban presence. The ground floor is pivotal to the project's success, activating urban spaces with its open, inviting design. Strategic openings and recesses foster a sense of urbanity and diversity, while the vocational school's entrance is distinctly marked within the clinker facade, establishing a unique urban identity. A city loggia on the first floor offers panoramic views of significant landmarks, further connecting the building to its context. The roofscape is conceived as an ecologically effective compensatory space, housing box apartments, a sports hall, and a roof garden. This communal area enriches the building's silhouette without compromising its historic profile. The incorporation of photovoltaic systems and a low-tech approach to energy efficiency commitment to sustainability.

Design Highlights

Dual-layer facade with glass and clinker elements Integration of historic and contemporary architectural languages Activation of urban spaces through strategic design interventions Ecologically effective roofscape with communal amenities Energy-efficient design achieving KfW55 standard

Key Facts