Continental Headquarters

Hannover, Germany
Ansicht von Osten
Photo © Simon Menges
Konzeptdiagramm
Drawing © HENN
Modell
Photo © HENN
Brücke, Ansicht von Westen
Photo © Simon Menges
Atrium Nord
Photo © Simon Menges
Detail Fassade
Photo © Simon Menges
Atrium Süd
Photo © Simon Menges
Atrium Süd
Photo © Simon Menges
Kollaboratives Arbeiten, Atrium Nord
Photo © Simon Menges
Architects
HENN
Location
Continental-Plaza 1, 30173 Hannover, Germany
Year
2023
Client
Continental AG
Team
Christian Bechtle, Wolfram Schneider, Kerstin Behrens, Dirk Breuer, Hyejin Cho, Daniela Damato, Jana Ebelt, Martin Erdinger, Oliver Franke, Hans Funk, Marta Gałdyś, Benedikt Glampe, Niels Henning, Katrin Jacobs, Anja Koch, Iva Kolak, Arnd Meineke, Axel Mierisch, Armin Nemati, Klaus Ransmayr, Christian Rassmann, Michael Sadomskyj, Katja Schuppelius, Tiffany Taraska, Thomas von Küstenfeld
Projektsteuerung
Drees & Sommer
Generalplanung Technische Gebäudeausstattung
Fact
Interior Design
Ippolito Fleitz Group
Fassadenplanung
Priedemann
Landschaftsplanung
Atelier Loidl
Tragwerk
wh-p Ingenieure
Bauphysik
DS-Plan Ingenieurgesellschaft für ganzheitliche Bauberatung und Generalfachplanung
Leitsystem Beschilderung
Moniteurs Kommunikationsdesign
Lichtplanung Tageslicht
Lichtvision
Lichtplanung Kunstlicht
agLicht
Medientechnik
PKE
Küchenplanung
Soda

On the eastern outskirts of Hanover, the new headquarters of Continental AG designed by HENN consolidates several functions previously spread across the city in a single location. Its dynamic design reflects the company’s evolution from a pure tire manufacturer to an innovative technology group in the German automotive industry.

This project makes Continental benefit from a campus-like development formed by interlinked free-standing buildings embedded in an urban environment that includes office and administrative buildings, hotels, and industry. It is located on two plots of land separated by an eight-lane road. The layout derives its core design idea from this location: a complex with a ground plan inspired by motor racing circuits, which connects buildings situated north and south of the road via a bridge spanning over 70 meters.

On the second floor, the Loop runs through all buildings and across the bridge as a dynamic spatial continuum that interconnects all buildings and employees. It functions as the communication center of the new headquarters, providing a wide array of spaces including collaborative work zones as well as room for knowledge sharing and informal encounters. In addition to areas for focused work, this design creates spaces for social interaction where people can meet and come together.

The Loop establishes a horizontal network of office and meeting rooms, a cafeteria, and a health center. On its northern and southern ends, it connects to the first-floor level via two “touchdowns.” This is where the two atria are situated, which welcome employees and visitors to the building while also providing direct links to the company canteen and a TV recording studio. The interiors of the work environments and staff canteen were designed by Ippolito Fleitz Group.

The basic design concept thus remains clearly visible both in the interiors and outside the buildings. On the smooth glass façade articulated by dark grey profiles, color-printed glass panels mark the Loop on all sides and visually connect all buildings to form a coherent whole. Thanks to their energy-efficient inverted façade, the buildings do not require external solar shading.

The complex is embedded in a generously designed, publicly accessible landscaped area that lets the trees of the surrounding landscape permeate into the campus. The individual buildings enclose more secluded, planted courtyards providing outdoor workplaces as well as room for recreation.

The new Continental headquarters embodies the power of communication and cooperation, bringing people together under a single roof to shape the future of mobility.

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