Villa S, near Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
White cast in-situ concrete, slate, steel & glass
Completion date: August 2014

Workshop Siegen


















The Workshop's distinctive form references the classic garage format with forecourt. Its simple steel frame structure is fitted with fibreglass translucent panels to provide both energy-efficient insulation and a softly diffused light inside, the latter facilitating productivity by creating a calm and relaxed environment in which to work. At night, the building functions as a light beacon, illuminating the main entrance to the industrial complex.

In addition to the panelling's insulation, light diffusing and signage properties, its sub-structural configuration, comprising a series of delicate horizontal seams, animates the grid like composition, as articulated by the mainframe and mullions. Collectively, these details accentuate the dramatic cantilevered canopy.

Internally, a concrete box, housing the office and washroom facilities, stabilizes the main structure via a series of horizontal and vertical steel struts. These eliminate the need for external cross bracing, so preserving the aesthetic clarity of the architecture and its impact as a light beacon. Only standard industrial products were used in the making of Workshop Siegen.