Industrial architecture: the symbolic power of the building.

The centre for the technological transfer of optical technologies and production techniques researches laser systems to develop higher quality and more profitable steel structures and to cut production times.

The architects from the Hamburg-based firm, blauraum therefore designed a building whose very style expresses the precision of innovative laser technology. Three different uses oflasers for shipyards, laser cutting of sheet metal and spare parts have been brought under the same roof, leaving a larger green area around the centre itself.

The new building also includes classrooms, offices and the large nitrogen tank that is normally not included in buildings due to the explosion hazard. Still, sophisticated design stratagems have been used to incorporate this component into the building and it is visible through the perforated façade.

The coordinated image of blauraum's project for Laser Zentrum Nord, the first within the context of the “IBA reference project”, follows Visual Marketing rules: the architecture of the surfaces evokes the process of laser cutting by playing with the grey perforated metal façade and yellow buffering.

This alone makes the centre a landmark, but the owners are also convinced that its symbolic power has facilitated fundraising for research.


Project: blauraum, http://www.blauraum.eu
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Photos: Martin Schlüter, Hamburg
Links:  Bebelallee Treehouses http://www.floornature.com/blog/cutting-co2-emissions-in-half-while-doubling-habitable-space-bebelallee-treehouses-by-blauraum-7615/, Railway Service Building http://www.floornature.com/blog/hamburg-building-created-with-a-view-to-establishing-an-ecological-balance-7871/

---

GALLERY