Cologne Oval Offices

The oval complex of administrative buildings for the health insurance company MEAG/DKV is located on the left bank of the Rhine near the historic center of Cologne. The complex, covering a total area of 42,000m², was designed by the Berlin office Sauerbruch Hutton, which won the architectural competition in 2000. Originally, the embankment served for the construction of grand suburban villas, but nowadays, an increasing number of high-rise administrative buildings are starting to appear. In the immediate vicinity of another twelve-story administrative building from the 1970s, 'amoebas' with a facade of red-green laminate have arisen. To preserve the landscape quality of the environment and mitigate land use intensification, the floor plans of both office buildings are shaped into curves. The stepping of the new buildings also reintegrates the existing high-rise into an otherwise low surrounding development. The chosen color scheme is intended by the architects to enhance the natural character of the outdoor environment. The relaxed shapes also allow for effective use of office floor plans: each building contains three communication cores around which the usable area flows. Hallways extend to the usable zones, resulting in diverse office spaces. Individual floors can be subdivided as needed into three independent rental areas with their own entrance and address. The glass facade ensures adequate distribution of natural light deep into the layout. Thanks to the nearby Rhine, complete tempering of the entire complex can occur through water from wells.