Green Canyon
Urban Sanctuary: Fresh Green Start in the Federal District
  • Location
    Bonn
  • Project
    Construction of two office buildings
  • Procedure
    1st prize realization competition
  • Client
    Landmarken AG
  • Architect of record
    Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer
  • Technical building equipment
    Ingenieurbüro IBS Schuster, Bonn
  • Structural engineering
    Kempen Krause Ingenieure, Düsseldorf
  • Fire protection
    BFT Cognos GmbH, Aachen
  • Landscape architecture
    SGG, Düsseldorf
  • Facade planning
    DS-Plan, Hamburg
  • Building physics
    Graner & Partner Ingenieure GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach
  • Surveyor
    Ingenieurbüro Pilhatsch, Bonn
  • Planning and construction period
    2018–
  • Gross floor area (AG/BG)
    19,600 m²/10,800 m²
  • Certifications
    DGNB Platinum (intended); WiredScore Gold (intended)
  • Visualization
    caspar./HHVISION
  • This project is from the joint period of meyerschmitzmorkramer.

The Green Canyon project reimagines the office building typology. We opened up the structure, integrated greenery on the cut surfaces, and crafted exceptional interior and exterior spaces. Our innovative approach won over the jury at the 2018 Landmarken AG realization competition for an office ensemble in Bonn’s federal district. The designated area between B9/Godesberger Allee and Dreizehnmorgenweg is divided into six plots, with meticulously planned, car-free pedestrian pathways landscaped with new climate-resistant deciduous trees. Our plot, a narrow rectangle, forms the central axis of the new quarter. By rotating this axis by 45 degrees, we created two facing standalone structures. We widened the gap between them vertically, stepped back the floors in a staggered design, and added planted terraces on both sides, making the Green Canyon truly inviting.

In dialogue

The two office and commercial buildings, one five stories and the other seven, face each other atop a two-story underground garage accessible from both sides. This frees up the surface area for pedestrian walkways and recreational spaces. The underground garage offers not just parking for cars but also includes 250 bicycle spaces, charging stations, and facilities such as showers and changing rooms. On the ground floors, small stores, restaurant spaces, and co-working areas are planned – elements of local urbanity that greatly enhance the infrastructure of what was once a predominantly governmental district. The office spaces on the upper floors are accessible via an open-plan foyer linked to multifunctional meeting and conference rooms. These offices are designed to be highly adaptable, catering to various tenant preferences from a modern open-plan layout to private, focused offices interspersed with various communal communication areas. Our design promotes movement and interaction within the buildings and opens up new perspectives. Thanks to flexible open-space furnishings, work can easily transition outdoors to the landscaped “green gap” or the expansive roof terrace of the shorter building.

 

Green house

The staggered canyon facades have a maximum proportion of glass that directs the focus to the center of the building. The terrace areas are readily accessible through numerous exits. The terrace railings feature an integrated trough system for greenery, while also incorporating fall protection for safety. With the Green Canyon, we designed an office property with a strong emphasis on flexibility and professional comfort, achieving high sustainability standards and significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw abundant natural light into the interiors, and terrace access is available from multiple points. External sunshades prevent the interiors from overheating, while radiant floor systems efficiently manage heating and cooling. The building’s energy needs are supported by district heating, geothermal energy, and photovoltaics. Additionally, an integrated system of networked energy monitoring and management, combined with intelligent building technology for lighting and air conditioning, automates and optimizes energy savings.

Project team
  • Alexander Willems
  • Simone Hamm
  • Rosella Alvir Grau
  • Nastaran Eidani
  • Oliver Greven
  • Michael Meier
  • Felix Nebelin
  • Fabian Reckers
  • Nevriye Pierson
  • Timon Schneider
  • Carlos Tinoco de Castilla
  • Lydia Walter
  • Angeline Ziegler