Munich, Germany

2013 - 2016

Siemens Global HQ

Located in the heart of Munich, our design for the 45,000 m² Siemens headquarters provides workspace for 1,200 employees and welcomes the public, all while keeping energy and water use to a minimum through strategic form and smart technologies.

Project details

Client

Siemens Real Estate

Typology

Office and HQs

Status

The Siemens headquarters in Munich was designed to reflect the company’s commitment to pioneering environmentally minded technologies, while giving something back to the city that has served as its base for over half a century. Shortlisted for the 2017 ‘Best Innovative Green Building’ Award, the project involved the renovation of the historic Ludwig Ferdinand Palais which had served as Siemens previous headquarters since 1949, as well as the design of the company’s new home, and a seamless connection between the two.

Seen from the historic Wittelsbacherplatz, the new headquarters building is discreetly situated behind the renovated Palais. The two buildings connect, providing the Palais access to the modern conference and meeting facilities of the new building. On the other side of the complex, Munich’s more modern area, the new headquarters distinctive and prominent façade make the building stand out in its urban landscape.

In honor of the essential role the city of Munich has played in Siemens’ evolution over time, our team sought to create a building that would not only offer space for its employees but would welcome locals as well. The design features a ground floor that is open to the public, and a footpath cutting through it allows residents to easily move between downtown Munich and the city’s famous museum district. In this way, the building actively takes part in city life, promoting knowledge-sharing and providing access to Munich’s cultural offerings.

To help Siemens’ headquarters fit into its historic Munich context, we reinvented the traditional office paradigm to create a space that gave back to the city. Rather than relying on a friendly façade alone to connect the building to the urban fabric, the Siemens headquarters opens its ground level to the public – an unusual move in private buildings. Hufton + Crow, 2016
Viewed from the historic Wittelsbacherplatz, the headquarters is tucked behind the refurbished Ludwig Ferdinand Palais, formerly Siemens' administrative center until 2016. The two structures are harmoniously connected at the rear, allowing the palace access to contemporary conference and meeting amenities. Aerial, 2016
Hufton + Crow, 2016
This elevation shows natural limestone panels of the façade which offered various customizable options for the exterior expression of Siemens.

A modern environment for varying needs

The new headquarters was designed as a modern and inspiring work environment, where 1,200 employees could share knowledge and work across departments. To achieve a sense of transparency, the office consists of an open working environment where employees can collaborate in larger groups, as well as quiet zones for tasks that require greater concentration. Together, this range of workspaces contributes to an inclusive setting that meets diverse needs.

Transparency throughout ensures visual contact with colleagues across courtyard rooms and floors and creates a sense of togetherness. All workspaces are arranged along floor-to-ceiling windows, and employees can adjust the indoor climate to suit their needs through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technologies in every area.

Based on information from 30,000 data points in the building, Siemens' own advanced building technology regulates temperatures, ventilation, and lighting to create a healthy and productive indoor climate. Hufton + Crow, 2016

“The new building is a place of treating each other with mutual respect and of maintaining an open dialogue that is unrestricted by hierarchical structures – a place characterized by a high degree of self-determination and personal responsibility.”

Joe Kaeser

Retired president and CEO of Siemens AG

Rethinking conventional resource consumption

Encompassing 45,000 m², the building has received DGNB Platinum and LEED Platinum certifications, both of which acknowledge the design’s commitment to rethink conventional resource consumption. Created to integrate Siemens’ own pioneering smart technologies, the new headquarters consumes 90% less electricity and uses 75% less water than its predecessor.

Exposure to natural daylight and green spaces, both of which improve productivity and well-being, are abundant throughout the building. A tilted inner façade increases the amount of natural light that penetrates the building’s interior, and reduces the need for artificial lighting, while four rectangular courtyards have been cut out from the structure’s single volume, offering employees easy access to the outdoors.

Courtyards are a common feature in Munich’s architecture, doubling in purpose as a light source and semi-private exterior space. At Siemens, these traditional elements are given a public personality with small passages connecting the courtyards at ground level to allow the passage of people and light. Hufton + Crow, 2016

Contact

All contacts
Portrait of Louis Becker

Louis Becker

Global Design Principal

LB@henninglarsen.com
Portrait of Werner Frosch

Werner Frosch

Country Market Director

wf@henninglarsen.com

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