AN URBAN ROOFTOP FOREST
Top international architecture meets sustainability and neighbourhood development: the Tadao Ando Campus & Tower building project aims to set new standards on several levels. VIVID spoke with architect David Schwitzke, project and site manager of Euroatlantic GmbH in Düsseldorf.
Mr Schwitzke, since the end of June 2022, the City of Düsseldorf has issued an approved preliminary building application for the construction of the Tadao And Campus & Tower. The client is Euroatlantic GmbH.
How did the cooperation with the Japanese architect Tadao Ando and the plan to realise a sustainable building at the “Mörsenbroicher Ei” come about?
Our company founder Arnulf Damerau supports many cultural institutions and is very fond of art. He knows Tadao Ando well, and Mr. Damerau loves Japan and Japanese culture. When some plots of land at the Mörsenbroicher Ei came on the market, the two of them got together, totally thrilled to be able to realise such a long building and at the same time add a high point. You hardly ever get such an opportunity in an inner-city location these days.
To what extent is the city of Düsseldorf involved in the building project?
We approached the city as part of the planning and immediately met with enthusiasm. They had wanted to develop this district for a long time.
The developer of the project is the Euroatlantic Group. Who else is involved in the construction project?
As general planners, we were able to bring on board the architectural firm Henn from Berlin, who are very familiar with Japanese and Asian architecture.
As mentioned, the project is named after the internationally renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. What does his architecture stand for?
It is characterised above all by its geometry, straight lines and clear forms. Ando also likes to integrate nature into his designs.
The courtyard view shows “Pars Pro Toto” by Alicja Kwade. The installation was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2017. For the Tadao Ando Campus and Tower, the artist will design a site-specific work that is part of the cross-project art concept curated by Anna Deilmann.
“OUR DESIRE IS TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK WITH THIS BUILDING BY SHAPING A NEIGHBOURHOOD AND INITIATING A PIECE OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT.”
One focus of your building project is sustainability. How will you implement this in concrete terms?
One of the highlights of our design is the large, green roofscape.In addition, we will implement a CO2-neutral building that is controlled via artificial intelligence. The building detects whether it is currently too cold, too warm, too humid or too dry and will then automatically open or close window sashes - saving a lot of energy! In addition, we work with sustainable building materials and strive for various eco-certificates that stand for CO2-neutral operation of the building or various factors such as barrier-free parking spaces, e-charging points, etc. And the Madaster register, which catalogues all the materials used in the building so that they can be deconstructed more easily if necessary.
How do you catogerise the project in terms of urban planning, especially as far as neighbourhood development is concerned?
Our wish is to involve the neighbourhood as well. It is important to us to be an open campus that everyone can use to some extent. There will be wholly public zones on the ground floor. This includes gastronomy, a market hall and various art and culture installations and concepts. In addition, there will be the green inner courtyard on the campus and the roof areas, which will also be open to the public. The tower will also have a restaurant floor and a fitness centre.
For the design of the green spaces, you are working with the Swiss landscape architect Enzo Enea. His landscaping concept is very impressive, especially in terms of biodiversity - there is even talk of an “urban forest” on the campus roof. So, what should we expect to see there?
Exactly that. Enea also always chooses plants that are at home in the climate where he grows them, so that native insects and birds also enjoy his landscapes. If you plan something like this well from the start, it is also possible - the technical floors, for example, guarantee Enea the necessary planting depth for the trees.
You describe the Tadao Ando Campus & Tower as a “complex symbiosis of high tech, nature, art and a vision of the future”. What standards for the future will the building project set for the regional economy?
The Ando Campus & Tower also wants to integrate the neighbourhood, and be an open campus that everyone can use to some extent.
A big part of our campus is that we are thinking ahead about working worlds and office concepts. The pandemic has shown thatthese topics need more energetic and creative input in Germany. One of our tenants will be the Hyatt Hotel, which will of course create new jobs.
What about international tenants? Can you imagine Japanese companies in particular being interested in renting office space designed by Tadao Ando? Will there perhaps even be a second Japanese centre here in addition to the one at Immermannstrasse?
That would be great, of course, and we are currently holding talks regarding this idea. We are in a position to be able to offer any company flexible and large-scale office space or co-working space, even for a short period of time. This flexibility within an architecture is something that does not yet exist on the market.
The Euroatlantic Group describes itself as a “philanthropic investor”. For what does this term stand?
Our desire is to give something back with this building by shaping a neighbourhood and initiating a piece of urban development. This is in line with the core values of Mr Damerau and the Euroatlantic Group - that in addition to architecture, you also create added value. It is important to us that we also create culture in such places, for example through interim use, where we provide free artist studios and offices for start-ups, but also places for education, especially for young people.
And on the rooftops, a park accessible to all, from which you will certainly have a great view over the city. How many stor eys will the tower have?
We are currently estimating that the tower will have 25 storeys atm105 metres. I think from there you will enjoy a very beautiful and above all new view of the city of Düsseldorf. •
Words Katja Vaders
Pictures HENN, EuroAtlantic, Tadao Ando Campus and Tower,
HENN, EuroAtlantic, Tadao Ando Campus and Tower mit Kunst am Bau Kunstwerk „Pars Pro Toto“ von Alicja Kwade
ENN, EuroAtlantic, Tadao Ando Campus and Tower