Administrative buildings

The design basically emanates from the approach of creating a self-contained district – a telecommunications district – for Deutsche Telekom AG at its Bonn location opposite the control centre for the individual divisions and subsidiaries, and to integrate it into its contextual surroundings.

A complex comprising four different sectors has been devised, each of which has its own separate address within the ensemble and should ‑ as the structural planning proceeds ‑ be able to develop its individuality even further, subject to its users and its functions.

Each partial complex with its own central entrance hall is, in turn, subdivided into individual rental or functional units resulting from their urban context.  Thus there is a clear, well-developed hierarchical structure which aids orientation and identification, from 'district' via 'building' to 'rental' unit.

Its spatial and functional coherence is made tangible by the linear structure and openness of the entire development.  At the same time the structural subdivision offers the option to react flexibly to changing qualitative and quantitative conditions, and thus it is receptive to development opportunities.

In accordance with the basic concept of a ‘telecommunications district’, a linear structure is being developed, with four units, each approx. 82.5 m long towards Friedrich-Ebert-Allee.  This linearity is interrupted towards Heinrich-Lübke-Strasse by the three to five-storey solitaire-like buildings, thus creating a transition between the various scales to be found on Friedrich-Ebert-Allee on the one hand, and in the Johanniter district on the other.  The six-storey buildings on the avenue correspond in height to the existing buildings opposite ('Zentrale', i.e. control centre, Postbank, etc.).

A design had been devised which:

a)accentuates ‘government avenue’ by positioning the structure parallel to it

b)but is set back from the road and does not interfere with the line of sight

c)- with its curved figuration,
- suspended design,
- conical design of the façade and
-  staggered heights, has its own independent sculptural form.

The new Karavanknoten junction requires fresh structural accentuation because of the significant break it has created in the progression of the avenue.  The new development will define and accentuate the resulting gap and the gateway situation at the Karavan­knoten to great effect.

To emphasise this gateway aspect, a decision was made not to position the entire complex so that it ran parallel to the avenue, but to allow the southern part of the development to deviate and 'swing' into the street space.

All in all, this is a specific interpretation of the urban situation consequent to its location, which allows the complex as a whole to develop its own architectural personality with its subdivision into four self-sufficient units.  At the same time, the building owner's self-conception is expressed, i.e. in a contemporary, future-oriented building with particular consideration of the special features of the location.

A condition and requirement of the invitation to tender was to preserve the Konrad Adenauer House (CDU party headquarters).
The alternative draft proposal had envisaged its demolition and, instead, the creation of an architectural focal point in the vicinity of the road junction.
This proposal was not taken up when the results of the competition were decided.  However, Konrad Adenauer House was demolished shortly thereafter.