RAG Headquarter, Essen, Germany

The two-winged layout, which was determined by the corner position of the building, is reflected in the functional arrangement. Each occupant is accommodated in one of the angular-shaped building’s wings, whereas the communal facilities, such as the entrance lobby, conference rooms and a staff canteen, are incorporated in the central part, the link, as a meeting place for all employees.

The reception area on the ground floor and the canteen on the first floor emphasise the position of the building at the intersection between the cultural and natural landscape by providing views into the former mining grounds and the green surroundings. In addition to the seating area in the canteen, excellent views can also be enjoyed from the dining areas on the north-facing terrace and the south-facing covered loggia. The rooms for RAG-Stiftung are located on two floors in the slightly smaller west wing; the RAG AG offices, on the other hand, are accommodated around the two planted courtyards in the east wing.

A highlight of the new building is the walkable green roof that spans all parts of the building. Accessible to everyone from the outside, the generous green roof extends over curved paths along heterogeneously lushly planted flower beds, a herb bed and woods. A pergola covered with solar panels provides shade. Rising ceiling heights in the corners of the buildings create steps on the green roof that invite visitors and staff to linger.

Recyclability and Material Passports

Simply the choice of the plot located on the originally intensively used industrial grounds of the former Zollverein coking plant means that priority was given to the recycling of a brownfield site. Moreover, the new build with offices for RAG-Stiftung and RAG AG is one of the first buildings in Germany that has implemented comprehensive measures inspired by the cradle-to-cradle principles. This means that materials and components have not only been chosen for their health and environmental aspects but, more than anything else, for their circular economy strategies with the effect that the quality of raw materials is retained until the building reaches the end of its lifecycle and then functions as a resource bank.

Within the EU research project Buildings as Material Banks (BAMB), the building was chosen as a pilot project and the materials used were documented in a material passport. The ground connected areas have been completed using mainly water-resistant concrete without additional waterproofing. The opaque exterior walls have been clad with aluminium sheet panels. The ribbon windows are made of frame constructions with C2C-certified aluminium profiles and glass panes. Further components include C2C-certified floor coverings, such as carpet tiles with dust-binding properties and oak parquet flooring, as well as a C2C-certified glass partition wall system.

In addition to the use of geothermal energy, a roof-mounted photovoltaic pergola is used to generate renewable energy from sunlight. The water cycle is protected by collecting rainwater to water the planted roof and flush the toilets.