Büro Ole Scheeren’s first European project in Frankfurt
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Riverpark Tower, Büro Ole Scheeren’s first major building project in Europe, is scheduled to begin construction in Frankfurt in 2018. The residential project will also be the firm’s first major reuse project.Ole Scheeren is known for projects such as Th
Büro Ole Scheeren’s first European project in Frankfurt
Riverpark Tower, Büro Ole Scheeren’s first major building project in Europe, is scheduled to begin construction in Frankfurt in 2018. The residential project will also be the firm’s first major reuse project.Ole Scheeren is known for projects such as The Interlace in Singapore and the CCTV building in Beijing. “It’s an interesting move for our first European project, coming from the Asian context. Tower blocks have a more controversial history in Europe than in Asia,” said Scheeren.There have been many difficult iterations of the tower post-war in Europe in the 1960s and 70s, failing to explore ideas of community and togetherness in its heavy, enclosed, and outdated structure. “It’s a good example of an office building that was a statement at its time, but is no longer appropriated for today’s needs. We wanted to architecturally reinterpret it as an open and active member of the skyline,” added Scheeren.The studio has completely transformed the monolithic concrete block into an open structure with 220 units and 23 floors. The building is see-through in its three-dimensionality and is located along the river. Scheeren said, “The tower welcomes you to the Frankfurt skyline as you arrive from the airport as one of the first landmarks.”Scheeren stripped back the bulky façade and opened up four thick corner mega-columns which were blockers to light and views. The uppermost and lowermost technical floors were taken out and floor heights were adjusted to suit residential living. In place of the heavy facade, balconies and windows now emphasize the horizontality of the tower. The interior structure and outward personality of the building have been completely transformed, while retaining the central structure and footprint of the original building, noted the Wallpaper. Read more
