Hightech Innovation Center Würth, Munich-Freiham (DE)

The new Hightech Innovation Center of Würth Elektronik eiSos in Munich aims to reflect the innovative achievements of the company with a focus on motivating employees and optimizing their skills by providing high-quality working conditions. The various functions such as research, conference, administration and restaurant will be united in a representative, identity-creating building.

Concept
Our concept features two independent three-storey buildings connected by a covered transition on the 1st floor. Together, the two solitaires form a campus divided by courtyards, oriented to the scale of the surroundings and yet representing a striking counterpole to the customary local buildings.
The inviting covered entrance area with the adjoining protected inner courtyard leads into the Innovation Center. “The inner access concept is stringent, clearly structured and economical. The central access road, which runs in an east-west direction through all floors, provides good orientation and at the same time serves as a communication area between the various functions in the building,” comments the jury on our design. Sheltered terraces and inner courtyards offer retreats and quiet zones.

Functionality
The main functions are divided vertically from the semi-public and representative areas on the ground floor to the more introverted areas of research on the upper floors. The event area, restaurant and showrooms are located on the ground floor and open onto the attractively designed outdoor area. The flexible space concept on the upper floor adapts optimally to the needs of the various teams and uses. It enables places of retreat for individual research and working in small groups as well as areas for experimental, interactive processes. Various visual connections between the individual levels and functions promote the communicative character of the building.

Construction & Materiality
The lightweight construction made of prefabricated wood-concrete composite elements promises an economical, fast construction. Transparent areas with glass surfaces alternating with the closed areas of the ancillary rooms structure the interior.
The generously glazed façade is covered with a close-meshed, storey-high wooden grid, framed with protective metal cladding that includes the textile sun protection. The space-forming construction remains visible.

Client: WE eiSos GmbH & Co. KG
Architecture: Dietrich | Untertrifaller,
Competition: 2019 / 1. Prize
Area: 10.300m²
Capacity: conference, administration, research, restaurant, EDP, storage, technology, laboratories

Partners
Statics: Knippers Helbig, Stuttgart / energy: Transsolar, Stuttgart / landscape: Lohrer.Hochrein, Munich /// rendering: Dietrich | Untertrifaller