According to HPP design a new ensemble of buildings for alltours Flugreisen GmbH directly on the Rhine on Mannesmannufer in the centre of Düsseldorf will be realized. In a prominent location in the immediate vicinity of the Mannesmann Tower and in a listed surrounding, the new building ensemble offers a total of approx. 12,500 m² of office space on the Rhine. The transparent and elegant structure of alltours Flugreisen GmbH's new corporate headquarters is adjoined by a building with freehold apartments along Mannesmannufer and to the rear of Berger Allee a building with retirement housing and a nursing and care facility. "I am very much looking forward to our generous new building", explains alltours owner Willi Verhuven on the occasion of the presentation of the construction plans on November 14th.
In 2014, alltours moved its headquarters from Duisburg to the Dreischeibenhaus in Düsseldorf, which had been designed and refurbished by HPP. The company which currently employs around 400 people will remain loyal to the Düsseldorf location and is moving into its own headquarters in order to continue its current course of expansion and growth. The headquarters will combine the requirement for future-oriented, innovative and sustainable workplaces with an open atmosphere.
The choice of location on the Mannesmannufer is the basis for a company headquarters in a prestigious environment. At the same time, it is important to deal sensitively with the cultural significance of the surrounding area and the adjacent district of Carlstadt. The new u-shaped building ensemble will fit into the city skyline on the Rhine, enclosing the existing perimeter block structure and integrating all sides into the surrounding existing buildings. The new alltours headquarters makes reference to the listed neighbouring building in terms of its structure, height and materials. The nine-storey building with owner-occupied apartments reflects the neighbouring residential development through its façade structure and the staggering of the upper floors. The seven-storey building opposite takes up the height of the buildings along Berger Allee.
Finely structured and open
"For the alltours headquarters, a fine, vertically segmented façade structure made of stone pilaster strips was developed as a distinctive design element with an overall calm but modern architectural language," explains HPP Senior Partner Volker Weuthen. The narrow rhythm of the profiles is widened at the atrium façades and the staircase in Thomasstrasse. The vertical pilaster strips of the main façade are continued in the roof area and form a trellis in front of the recessed glass façades of the conference floor and the staff restaurant, where they also serve as fixed sun protection. Several recesses cut into the structure of the roof, used as terraces, give the building a striking roof contour and open it up to the adjoining residential buildings.
The new alltours headquarters is accessed via the main entrance on Berger Allee. An additional ground floor entrance on Mannesmannufer opposite, creates a passageway through the building with generous communication and meeting zones. An inner atrium extends from the ground floor to the roof of the office building and divides the building into two wings which are connected by a bridge on each of the upper floors. The high overall transparency of the façades and the views of the Rhine and Berger Allee also create attractive areas in the central zones. Bright, light-flooded offices offer space for up to 630 employees. Employees can relax on the top floor, where a modern fitness area, a chill-out area and a studio for sports and health facilities are located next to the employee restaurant with outdoor terrace.
The demolition of the existing building, which has been vacant since 2012, will begin in November and completion is scheduled for the end of 2021.
