Building
Architecture
The new building for the company Geyssel in Köln-Ossendorf was completed in 1993. In addition to the aesthetic and functional aspects, innovation and environmental conservation were the top priorities.
The building, which was designed by Prof. Erich Schneider-Wessling, comprises a 6 m high hall and an adjacent 3-storey office building; attached to the office building is a round, meanwhile covered with plants, staircase tower. Since 2002, the unused lift shaft in the tower has housed an extensive installation.
(Art and construction)
It was also important to allow space for the building to grow in the future. It is possible to extend the hall by several axes. The foundation of the office building was designed to allow the construction of further storeys.
Innovation
The ground floor is equipped with a holographic lighting system which was specially designed at the Cologne Polytechnic (Prof. Dr. Gutjahr, Prof. Dr. Müller). Depending on the amount of available daylight, the system provides extra artificial light. In addition to the reduction in energy costs, the whole space is illuminated in a reflection-free light (500-1000 Lux).
>>Due to its innovative daylight technology, the Geyssel office building was added to the case studies list by the IEA, Task 21 “Daylighting in Buildings” international energy agency for further observation and measuring.<<
(information brochure with pictures, pdf)
You can recognise the holographic glass from outside as the blue strips or the light strip inside above the porch. The right-hand picture also shows the connected ceiling reflectors.
A further interesting detail, a liquid crystal disk, can be seen in our conference room which borders the assembly hall; initially this disk is milky and translucent but becomes clear when the power is turned on and allows the clients a view of the machines production process.
Environmental conservation
Our building is equipped with sun collectors for generating heat and rainwater collection containers. The environmentally-friendly cellulose insulation material “Isofloc” was used as heat insulation whilst the courtyard was paved using a rainwater permeable material (“Geopor”, RCL).
For more information about the lighting control system:
Energieagentur NRW (pdf)