BrainFactory Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia building development, German modern architecture

BrainFactory Bochum in North Rhine-Westphalia

Updated 15 January 2025

Design: HWKN

Location: Bochum, Germany

Photos: Klemens Renner

BrainFactory Bochum Building in North Rhine-Westphalia

New York architectural firm HWKN Architecture, has collaborated with Landmarken, Aachen-based developer, to reinvent the modern day office building by focusing on crafting buildings that evoke emotion, and addressing the increasing demand for environments that foster human interaction and balance. Prefabricated builds tend to be synonymous with repetitive and boring architecture, and HWKN has used the most available prefabrication system, fabricated by the company Goldbeck and turned generically exciting by cracking one the facade and turning the building into motion.

The sculptural approach to the facade turned the building into a place of anticipation, which extends into the interior, shaping the building into a post-covid new work environment that now hosts one of the premier tenants in Germany. SPIIRT Bochum is the first of a sequence of highly articulated, yet prefabricated office buildings for the SPIRIT brand by Landmarken AG.

On the interior, HWKN exposes structural columns, cuts out sections of the prefabricated box to enhance sociability. Light now floods into the seating lounges. The same reconfiguration – a cut-out turned 45 degrees – creates light-filled co-working areas. The brass finish of the sculpted exterior extends throughout, adding personality and forging an aesthetic link to the building as a whole and the city surrounding it. Amenities and thoughtfully curated spaces aim to draw people back to the office, offering an experience that merges community, productivity, and creativity.

The prefabrication process is a highly systematic and efficient approach to construction that combines off-site manufacturing with on-site assembly to create high-quality, standardized building components. This method ensures greater quality control through in-house production while balancing standardization with customization to meet specific project requirements.

By conserving resources through optimized material use and efficient manufacturing processes, significant material savings are achieved, such as welded cross-sections that are up to 40% lighter than conventional options and thinner MSCP ceiling slabs.

Advanced concrete formulations enhance durability and reduce the need for additional coatings, while reusable formwork minimizes waste compared to traditional methods. Prefabricated elements include multi-storey car park slabs, system beams, and specialized welded cross-sections.

Benefits of this approach include faster construction timelines, improved quality control, cost efficiency, sustainability, and streamlined logistics. This approach not only meets the project’s objectives but exceeds expectations, showcasing HWKN’s commitment to innovative, human-centric design that sets a new benchmark for modern work environments.

HWKN Architecture is at the forefront of innovative design, fueling the evermoving need for fresh, creative ideas that set a new standard of living. Post Covid, the push for human interaction became stronger, upping the need for workspaces that are designed for the people. HWKN was able to create a dynamic and incredibly unique experience upon arrival, resulting in a place that puts the community first, offering a workplace that pulls people in, rather than pushing them away.

BrainFactory Bochum in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany – Building Information

Status: Completed 2024
Type: Commercial
Location: Bochum, Germany
Client: Landmarken Ag
Size: 86,000 Sf
Scope: Concept-ca
Team: Matthias Hollwich, Robert May, Jessica Knobloch-arscott, Olga Snowden, Dorin Baul, Kuai Yu, Connor Gravelle

Photography: Klemens Renner

14 September 2021

BrainFactory Bochum, NRW Building

The New York architectural firm HWKN, has partnered with Landmarken, the prominent, Aachen-based developer, to create the next generation of the office. One of their new ‘Spirit’ prototypes BrainFactory Bochum opens in January 2023.

“We have to lure people back to the office”, says HWKN’s Matthias Hollwich. “With Spirit, we achieve that by turning the building into a destination, adding lifestyle amenities, greater flexibility, and openness to what was once just a commodity. By adding emotion, we turn the commonplace into the unforgettable.”

BrainFactory Bochum will be followed by AlphaSpace Aachen and KiteLoft Koeln, to be completed in the next two years. At 86,100 square feet, BrainFactory Bochum will house approximately 600 employees.

The designers create Spirit’s futuristic, socially innovative workspaces by first utilizing the latest generation of custom, prefabricated real estate products. Then, the shapeshifting begins.

In BrainFactory Bochum, their emotion-catching design is evident immediately upon approach. HWKN has playfully removed sections of the ‘prefabricated box’ to create a defining and iconic disruption of the standard exterior. Then, they went further. Since the prefab system does not allow for cantilevers, HWKN opted for a daring, distorted-column grid. “We uplifted and twisted the standard image of ‘the box!’, ” says Hollwich.

On the inside, to enhance the sociability of this workplace, HWKN exposes interior, structural columns, cutting out sections of the prefab box. Light now floods into the seating lounges. The same reconfiguration – a cut-out turned 45 degrees – also creates light-filled co-working areas. The brass finish of the sculpted exterior extends throughout, adding personality and forging an aesthetic link to the building as a whole and the city surrounding it.

”We have reinvented the box while still taking advantage of mass production”, says Hollwich. “The early Modernists of the Twentieth Century sought to make elegant, mass-produced housing. A hundred years later we are doing the same for the office with an emotional twist.”

The Spirit brand embodies HWKN’s core design principles: respect for nature, a happy and healthy work environment, intelligent design, and dedication to both neighbors and the community at large.

A design breakthrough, Spirit has resonated with HWKN’s client, Landmarken. “We were excited by an office design that was inspired by the progressive urban design of New York whilst still being affordable”, says Landmarken’s Jochen Hermanns. “When they open, Spirit Offices will help our clients attract top talent by creating an energized workplace and culture that beats the home office.“

HWKN Architects

Architects’ website: HWKN

BrainFactory Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia images / information received 140921

Location: Bochum, northern Germany, western Europe

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