Evangelische Bank eG

The Evangelische Bank, one of Germany's leading church banks, sees its special responsibility not only in the social and ethical sphere, but also in its actions with regard to ecology and economy. The concept of sustainability was therefore to consistently shape all decisions during the conversion and new construction of the headquarters in Kassel and led to the completed building being certified according to the criteria of the DGNB and awarded the highest distinction (gold) in the category "existing buildings". The use of more than 6,000 m² of Kugelgarn® also made a contribution, as this textile floor covering convinces with its durability and longevity.
Kassel based architect Prof. Alexander Reichel, who teaches "Sustainable Building and Design" at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, combined an existing six-storey building - the representative end of a series of 1950s buildings on Kassel's Ständeplatz - with the neighbouring original building of the Evangelische Bank from the 1980s. The focus was on preserving so-called "grey energy". The basement floors, concrete skeletons and stair cores could be retained as load-bearing structures, and the connection and extension of the buildings laid over them like a new mantle, giving the entire ensemble a uniform appearance.
The office spaces were designed according to the concept of "open space": not fixed workplaces, but a flexible mixture of desk spaces and zones for joint exchange, co-working spaces with seating furniture and creative spaces were realised. In the administrative areas, Kugelgarn® of the quality Creation lehm 311 was used, which harmoniously integrates into the overall concept in terms of design and colour. In combination with the acoustic ceiling elements and textile curtains, quiet zones for concentrated work and meetings were created in the middle of the open room concept thanks to the pleasant acoustic effect of the textile floor covering.
One of the decisive arguments for using Kugelgarn® was the freedom of direction, as this quality ideally suits the concept of the open-flowing rooms of the "Open Space": flexibility without the predetermined orientation of individual rooms. The material is also visually seamless and thus easy to repair on a small scale.
Kugelgarn® was mainly used in the Evangelische Bank as broadloom on a hollow floor. However, the non-slip Kugelgarn® is also an excellent covering and a real eye-catcher on the newly designed white steel spiral staircases.
Its material properties make Kugelgarn® an ideal component of sustainable construction methods. They contribute to minimising energy requirements throughout the entire life cycle. Repairability and low-cost cleaning, which keeps energy requirements and maintenance costs low, are also impressive sustainable arguments for this versatile and visually appealing material.

Reichel Architekten BDA PartG mbB, Kassel

Evangelische Bank eG