Dusseldorf's iconic Kö-Bogen with ArcelorMittal steel sections

Detailed information

Architectural icon

New York based architect Daniel Libeskind was entrusted with the design of this new building complex that constitutes the first step in the extensive urban regeneration project of Düsseldorf's city centre. Located at the end of the city's main avenue Königsallee, where the newly created Hofgarten Promenade starts, the Kö-Bogen (King's Bow) consists of two organic shaped five-storey buildings. Its name derives from the adjacent Königsallee and the bow-shaped boundary line of the Hofgarten park. The two structures are separated by a pedestrian passage way, but connected above with a two-storey bridge.

Completed in 2013, the architectural complex offers around 42 000 sqm of office, retail, and restaurant space on five storeys and an underground car park.

The Kö-Bogen's curved facades consist of glass and natural white stone (travertine) and are broken up by several diagonal cuts that incorporate small facade gardens. The intricate pattern of the facade appears horizontal from some perspectives and vertical from others. The stone and glass panels and aluminium louvres have been arranged to create a homogeneous whole.

The Kö-Bogen's design consists of both straight and curved geometry. Whereas the straight lines intend to reflect the city context of the neighbouring buildings on the Königsallee, the curved lines within and around Kö-Bogen’s courtyards create fluid connections with the pedestrian environment. This design intends to naturally blend landscape into the building space, which is achieved not only with its geometrical forms, but also the diagonal cuts in the facade, the green courtyards, and green roof system. All these elements convert the new complex into part of a new environment that bridges urban space with park space.

Sustainability

With its unique design and environmental concept, the Kö-Bogen stands for conceptional strength, modern urban development, and a sustainable future both for the city of Düsseldorf and Germany in general.

The project was awarded the MIPIM Award in the category of Best Urban Regeneration Project in March 2014. Six months later, the Kö-Bogen received the aspired LEED Platinum certification for sustainable construction.

The Kö-Bogen scored in the LEED categories of  Renewable Energy and Environmentally Conscious Building Resources thanks to its optimised energy management, geothermal pumping systems for heating and cooling, and heat recovery which contribute to achieving energy savings of 20%. In comparison to reference projects, the Kö-Bogen utilises 30% less water consumption due to water saving measures and the large infiltration areas on the roofs. Another decisive factor for LEED Platinum was the building's extensive green spaces like the green roofs, court yards, and greened facade 'cuts' that sum up to 47% of the complex's total open space surface.

ArcelorMittal steel

ArcelorMittal supplied 400 tonnes of HD 400 steel section in grade S460 for the flooring structure produced at the company's mill in Differdange, Luxembourg. In the project's conceptual stage, the engineering team of ArcelorMittal's Sections Tecom provided technical advisory and ArcelorMittal's steel service centre Eurostructures realised the special finishing of the beams.