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| Umbau Deutsche Bank | Alterations to Deutsche Bank |
Historic architecture dressed well in glass cloak | |
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The building has trodden the path of upheaval in German histor The first part of this building complex was constructed in 1889 as a bank for the Diskont Company, which was incorporated into the Deutsche Bank in 1929. In 1933, the government purchased it for use as the Imperial Prussian Department of Employment and Economy; in the post-war period it was used as the bureau of the German Liberal Labour Union. After the unification of Germany, Deutsche Bank bought it back and refurbished it to serve as it's venue for receptions and official functions in Berlin. The complex comprises a group of buildings of varying vintage. The concept of the refurbishment was to extend the central tract with two additional storeys, but otherwise restore the building to it's original state as far as possible. The courtyard was to be roofed-over in glass to provide a central atrium. Transparent skin covers the facade of the conventional architecture The new secondary glass facade is highly transparent, unifying the appearance of the existing building and the extensions. The glazing is held in a hybrid system of stainless steel frames reflecting the pattern of the original fenestration, linear support between the frames and structural glazing with open joints. These elements hang on tensile rods from steel console brackets at the new roof level, having to be restrained against wind load by horizontal struts fixed to the inner fa_ade. (Tension from a freely hung construction could not be transferred onto the existing structure). The void is open to the outside air to provide natural ventilation, but nevertheless provides sound attenuation to the inner windows, which are conventional opening sash windows with new double panes. ( U-value = 1.6 W/m2K ) Glass roofs cover the atrium and entrance vestibule A glass roof was constructed over the central courtyard to form an enclosed atrium 20 x 30 m. Double-glazing and glazed smoke vents are supported on a stiff framework of stainless steel angles with vertical struts at every other node, connected by diagonal cables; the upper surface and profile of the lower chord produces a cushion form, curved in both directions. The glazing surround comprises T-bar 60 mm wide with a height of 80 to 130 mm in a grid pattern; the interconnecting struts 34 mm in diameter and the cables 20 mm in diameter; nodes are of cast stainless steel. The glazing comprises insulating double units incorporating coatings for reduction of solar gain; with 8 mm tempered outer and 10 mm laminated inner glass panes with an air gap of 22 mm. In comparison to the structural complexity of the atrium roof, the glazing over the narrow entrance vestibule is restrained, comprising an arch of 40 x 60 mm hollow profiles with thin cable chords to maintain a shallow profile. Geoffrey Walkiden ( Novotny Mähner Assoziierte ) | ||||||||||||
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