The headquarters of Helm AG is located in Hamburg’s Hammerbrook District. Originally designed by architects Hans Jochem and Peter Hauske, the building, which was completed in 1972, and the opposite Hanse Haus with an almost identical architectural structure form an urban ensemble. Besides the modernisation of offices, the restructuring measures comprised of the façade, the entire building services as well as the addition of a bridge, which connects the headquarters with rented areas in the Hanse Haus. The design principle of the existing glass-band façade was basically maintained. The new aluminium sheet façade emphasises the horizontal structure of the building with a new design motif: diagonal folds in the white aluminium cladding create a visual tension, their varying light and shadow effects generating an ever changing appearance of the façade throughout the day.

Fotos: Ralph Buscher, Störmer Murphy and Partners