Behnisch Architekten - Europäischer Hof Redevelopment, Baden-Baden

The Europäischer Hof is one of the most renowned and historic hotels in Germany. Constructed in 1892, this five star hotel currently has 128 rooms and suites. The hotel is built in the style of Belle Epoque and provides a full service spa, conference facilities and a renowned restaurant. The hotel was the founder hotel of the Steigenberger chain with a long tradition and history. The redevelopment concept by Behnisch Architekten allows for properly combining the historic elements via a glazed atrium resulting in up to 156 bedrooms and a full upgrade to the existing environment. Pixel Enlargement produced this short video just in time for the 2011 MIPIM event in Cannes.

Behnisch Architekten - Unilever-haus, Hamburg

Photo: Adam Mork

The new Unilever headquarter building for Germany, Austria and Switzerland is located right by the river Elbe, prominently positioned in Hamburg's HafenCity. It marks the end of the route out of the town centre to Hamburg's new attractions: the cruise ship terminal and the promenade on Strandkai. Here Unilever's new building opens itself up to the city and its inhabitants.

The central element and heart of the design is the generous atrium, flooded by daylight, which, on the ground floor, gives passers-by the opportunity to get to know the company better while browsing in the shop stocked with Unilever products, sitting in the cafe or relaxing in the spa.

The atrium is also the central location for people to meet and communicate. As in a city, bridges, ramps and steps connect central spaces with each other. Here people can meet, talk and enjoy the inspiring ambiance. Vibrant and communicative interaction evolves, thereby fostering a feeling of togetherness among the employees. The workplace is no longer a separate department. The building itself reinforces the identity of the company.

The building follows the principles of holistic, sustainable architecture. While implementing technologies that help save resources, the energy concept adheres to the principle of avoiding technical solutions wherever possible. The office area is cooled by means of thermally activated reinforced concrete ceilings. A single-layer film facade placed in front of the building's insulation glazing protects the daylight-optimized blinds from strong wind and other weather influences.

The building's primary energy consumption during operation will be under 100 Kwh/a m2. A newly developed SMD-LED system has been deployed both for the building's general lighting and for workplace lighting. This system is up to seventy per cent more efficient than conventional halogen or metal halide lighting. The Unilever building received the newly established HafenCity EcoLabel in gold.

http://behnisch.com

Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg

The official video about Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, the largest model railway in the world, and one of the most successful tourist attractions in Germany. On the 1.300 m² large layout, far more than a thousand trains, aircrafts, cars and ships move about. A wonder of the world in miniature. Please, find more information on http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com

Walter Gropius - The Dessau Bauhaus

Sivasparch channel on YouTube has a set of 23 great half an hour documentaries on the most famous and significant architectural pieces. Great work for providing this stuff.

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Staatliches Bauhaus commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term Bauhaus, literally "house of construction" stood for "School of Building".