Modern building with reddish-brown facade and large windows in urban setting.

A modern building with a distinctive reddish-brown facade and large vertical windows, situated on a corner in an urban setting. The structure features a sloped roof and is surrounded by trees and people walking on a wet pavement.

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Architectural elevation of a building with a vertically structured facade and rooftop greenery.
Architectural elevation of a building with a brick facade and large windows. The structure features a stepped roofline with greenery on top and a large vertical banner on the right side. People are depicted walking and standing around the building.
A detailed architectural section drawing of a multi-story building. The drawing shows various levels labeled with different functions such as retail spaces, vocational school, residential areas, a sports hall, and a penthouse. A roof garden is depicted on the top level with trees and sculptures.
A detailed architectural section drawing of a multi-story building with labeled floors and a rooftop garden.
Architectural section drawing of a multi-story building showing various floors including residential, educational, and commercial spaces.
Aerial view of a large building complex with a central courtyard featuring greenery and solar panels on the roofs. Adjacent images include an interior view of a spacious room with people sitting and a cross-section architectural drawing.
A modern building with a distinctive reddish facade featuring vertical elements and large windows. People are walking and cycling in the surrounding urban area. Architectural sections and plans are also visible, showing detailed building layouts.
A modern urban development featuring a large building with a digital display showing a basketball player. The area includes outdoor seating for cafes and shops, with people walking along a paved street. Architectural drawings and a garden courtyard are also visible.
Architectural presentation board featuring elevations, floor plans, and concept images for a building project.
A large, modern building with a distinctive facade featuring a grid-like pattern and a reddish-brown roof. The building is situated on a street corner with a few pedestrians visible. The street is paved with bricks, and there are some street signs and a lamppost in the foreground.

Story

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

Feature Detail
Architect Herzog & de Meuron
Location Hannover, Germany
Year 2026
Status Built
Programs Retail, Catering, Vocational School, Sports Hall, Apartments
Energy Standard KfW55

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Facade: The facade consists of a self-supporting, vertically structured clinker facade with reddish, partly glazed clinker slips.

Materials

  • Glass — Transparent thermal envelope for the facade
  • Clinker — Outer facade layer
  • Steel — Prefabricated lightweight steel elements for vertical clinker-slip pilasters

Construction / Systems

  • Facade System: Two-layer structure with an inner glass thermal envelope and an outer clinker facade.
  • Energy Efficiency: Achieves KfW55 energy standard with photovoltaic systems on the roof.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: Reddish-brown
  • Lighting: Natural daylight through large glass windows

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