New central canteen
More than just the bare purpose

The building site is situated within the area surrounding the iconic architecture of Peter Behrens. Its structural and historical influence imposes complex requirements on the planning of the building’s location and form. On the one hand, the building should reinforce the cultural and architectural monument’s significance for the site. On the other hand, it is important for Infraserv GmbH, the developer, to enhance the attractiveness of the Höchst Industrial Park (IPH), also with a view to attracting further businesses.

The design for the new building should therefore not be limited to the purpose of a “canteen,” but should also reflect the modern working culture of the more than 90 international companies currently located at the IPH. Aesthetically, this means that the planned new building must respectfully complement the existing Behrens building while still presenting itself confidently and attractively.

Our proposal preserves the view of the Behrens Building completely. This is achieved through the new building’s position on the western edge of the site, at a considerable distance from the listed building, and through its almost entirely transparent structure. The enormous glass walls also ensure that the view of this iconic cultural monument remains visible from inside the building.

The orientation, the embankment structure and the tiered seating arena shape the design of the square and, together with the Behrens building, the spatial experience of the place.

The synergy between the Behrens building and the central canteen creates a meaningful “third place” with a social function. This social momentum, almost a break forum for the IPH, is crucial for the space to be experienced as a “new center”.

In front of the new building, an open space for meeting, exercise, and relaxation will be created. We therefore recommend developing the areas freed up next to the canteen into a green environment that strengthens the social function of the place for the “industrial park family”.

The solution to this contradictory task lies in the coherent unification of several conceptual ideas.

Maximum respectful distance to the Behrens building can be achieved by placing the building at the northwestern edge of the terrain and rotating it slightly towards the Behrens building.

The light well allows unrestricted use of the basement hidden behind the embankment structure.

Small “footprint” due to the invisible three-story structure with equivalent entrances in the north and south, so that the building offers guests two ground floor entrances on two levels and in two directions (no “back side”).

Hidden delivery on the west side, away from the Behrens building.

Transparency and lightness are achieved through the almost complete absence of load-bearing walls (above ground) and a flat roof that rests solely on slender steel beams.

Systematic planting around the entrances on the south and north sides.

Our design incorporates social value as a vision. When it comes to administrative buildings, we now naturally consider that the attractiveness of the workplace environment is part of “employer branding”.

In this sense, the new central canteen should create a relaxed, pleasant place for encounters, conversations and short rests.

The visible appreciation of the employees, which is expressed in this, is part of the guiding principle of our design.