OTTO BOCK HEALTH CARE GmbH, the worldwide leading company in providing prothetic and orthopedic devices is opening a new location at the heart of the German Capital next to Berlins architectural frontlines between Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.
The dynamic architectural shape of the building represents a harmonic integration of high tech design with natural forms. Following the image of human muscles, organically shaped parapets wrap the irregular building volume with rounded edges. It is a reflection on the Otto Bock corporate philosophy which continues to be reflected inside the building:
The lower three floors invite the visitors to the 490 m² public exhibition area on movement and mobility. Numerous interaction possibilities create an experience to be remembered. The upper three floors house offices, a seminar and conference area, as well as an orthopedic practice, each with about 200 m². The curtain wall construction resembles the modern automobil-design: precision cut, white coated aluminum panels in a glue connection with fair-faced, staggered glazings, in black enamel. The six storey reinforced concrete skeleton structure provides a total floor area of 1300 m². The floors surround a central core containing the staircases, elevator and engineering rooms. The compact shape of the building with its modest depths of spaces guarantees best day light conditions for all areas of primary uses.
Following clients intentions, interior works have been executed with a certain focus on 'minimalism'. All surface materials are mainly white, including furnitures and exhibition objects in contrast to the colourfully printed glas panels, cladding the core area of each floor. Here integrated tv-monitors also serve as information media. The exclusively used flooring materials are silvergrey flagstone and wall to wall carpet. At individual places, such as elevators, special choices of dark wood panels create a contrasting design atmosphere. The three storey staircase in the central exhibition areas has been designed as a prominent huge sculptural light object. Light fixtures are installed all over the soffits which are covered with a translucent sheeting.
All other lighting objects have been chosen round shaped as on surface or integrated fixtures. Due to the prominent urban location of the building in the centre of Berlin special attention has been given to a dynamic exterior lighting design: Integrated into the facade panels two computer controlled 'LED-light points' animate two house high virtual 'walkers' , which can be seen from the far distance. At the main entrance, below the canopy, a swinging LED-line informs pedestrians about the exhibitions inside. All interactive media installations, designed by ART+COM, Gestaltungsbüro für Neue Medien from Berlin and the special architecture undergo a symbiotic connection and bring the building into motion.
