04 July 2013
Energy-Efficient Wicona Façade for Award-Winning New Conference Centre in Germany
An energy-efficient aluminium and glass façade for a new award-winning conference centre in the historic town of Heidenheim in Germany has been created using curtain walling, window and door systems from Wicona.
This complex development, which also includes a new hotel and an underground car park, is located near to the Hellenstein Castle. It was designed by architects Dasch, Zürn & von Scholley and realised by Oei & Bromberger Architects. The main contractor was Ed. Züblin AG.
Fundamental to the centre's design was to reflect the outline of the castle mount, which involved the creation of a hollow cut into the mount. The conference centre extends downhill with an unrestrained geometry, exploiting the topography of the area and creating an unusual and dramatic entrance. Visitors enter the building through the hall's galleries to make their way through to the foyer. Walls run diagonally to form a series of unusual spaces, giving visitors a sense of harmony.
The Wicona curtain walling and in particular the diagonal glazing panels allow a high level of natural light into the building and illuminate the foyer on several levels. The extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing provides an interesting contrast to the fully enclosed cube-shaped hall. In addition to the large spans of curtain walling, Wicona windows partially feature coloured outer sections for an eye-catching appearance, with dark zinc cladding panels enclosing the main hall.
The transparent areas of the façade were created using Wicona's WICTEC 50HI stick curtain walling which has narrow 50mm sight lines both internally and externally, and the HI option delivers enhanced thermal performance, achieving a U value of 1.2 W/m2K . The system is one of the first aluminium façade systems to achieve passive house standards, realising U values of up to 0.74 W/m2K.
Wicona's highly insulated WICLINE casement windows are fully compatible with the WICTEC curtain walling and were inserted into the façade for a seamless finish.
The WICSTYLE door system was used for the entrance areas, fitted into curtain walling and as a standalone door. This product offers the advantage of an identical appearance, and the same design and technology whether it is an open-in or open-out system or an emergency exit door. Wicona also supplied WICSTYLE 77 FP doors to meet the stringent specification for fire protection.
Inside, the conference centre features a series of natural hues - a vibrant green glass wall encloses the cloakroom and contrasts with anthracite metal cladding to the cube-shaped hall. The foyer and galleries are paved with light grey Jura marble with fine walnut parquet flooring for the hall and conference space.
Following its completion, the Congress Centrum Heindenheim has received a prestigious architectural award from the Baden-Württemberg Architectural Association in recognition of its design excellence.
Wicona offers a range of technically advanced glazing systems for complex and bespoke aluminium façades. Its products include unitised and stick curtain walling, structural and roof glazing, highly insulated window systems and heavy duty doors.
The Wicona WICTEC curtain walling suite has been used extensively both in the UK and internationally. It features a wide range of structural aluminium profiles to accommodate vertical, angled, sloped and faceted situations for optimum creative freedom. There are options for additional security, fire protection and bullet resistance without altering the appearance of the façade.
For further information about Wicona's façade solutions, visit www.wicona.co.uk, email info.wiconauk@hydro.com or call 0845 602 8799.
Editors' Notes
1. The project team:
- Client: Congress & Event Heidenheim GmbH
- Architects: Dasch, Zürn & von Scholley/Oei & Bromberger
- Main contractor: Ed. Züblin AG
- Façade systems: Wicona
- Façade construction: Gergeni Metallbau GmbH & Co
2. Wicona is the first façade specialist in the UK to design and oversee complex and bespoke façade projects.
Wicona has more than 10 years' on-site experience in the UK and offers a complete turnkey service for the building envelope, from design concepts to fabrication, installation, testing and handover. Wicona and its partners will manage the full façade project, ensuring a seamless approach and complete peace of mind for architects, contractors and developers.
