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TOPI D E A S , I M P U L S E A N D I N N O VA T I O N S F O R A R C H I T E C T S

Where workshops and garages once dominated, two mighty residential towers now look out over the surrounding area. Together with his team, architect Sergey Skuratov created the “Egodom” residential complex here. High extensive windowing on the façade extending two storeys dominates the buildings and reaches out toward the sky. Façades featuring Hagemeister clinker brick borrow from the ap-pearance of the historic surroun-ding buildings and lend the two towers a powerful, yet modern, expression.

A NEW LANDMARK

FAÇADE

»Clinker brick shies away from neither snow nor ice nor water. It also offers an effective and tactilely attractive surface.«Sergey Skuratov, Sergey Skuratov Architects, Moskau

Project dataEgodom residential complex, Moscow – RUArchitectureSergey Skuratov ArchitectsClinker brick“Egodom” sortingFormatSF (212 x 105 x 40 mm) and individual shaped clinker bricks in 10 different versionsClinker brick-covered surface17,600 m²

EXTENSIONTO THE SKYNorth-east Moscow is characterised by large residential and administrative buildings and giant storage warehouses. For several years, though, fitness centres, international restaurants and large shopping centres have increasingly been taking over the area. The neighbourhood’s new well-do-to residents appreciate the area’s good public transport accessibility thanks to the “Alexeyevna” metro station and the close proximity to the well-known Sokolniki Park. Creation of the “Egodom” residential complex has made the district even more attractive. The two residential towers feature prominently at a large crossing and borrow design elements from the surrounding buildings.

The red brick motif was used as an homage to historical buildings and applied as the dominant element on the site, according to architect Sergey Skuratov. The two towers, one smaller and one larger, are slightly offset from one another and accommodate 114 flats, including several luxury penthouses. A green inner courtyard lying somewhat lower than street level conveys a mood of peace and security. The extensive windowing on the façade of the buildings partially covers two storeys, creating an elongated appearance – as if the buildings were actually stretching upward.

It was primarily the use of clinker brick as the façade material which made the vertical structure of the two residential towers possible. According to clinker brick devotee Skuratov, “Clinker brick shies away from neither snow nor ice nor water. It also offers an effective and tactilely attractive surface.” Clinker brick buildings have a highly expressive, strong and potent effect, conveying a sense of dependability.

Hagemeister clinker brick of the Egodom sorting was developed especially for this residential complex and shimmers in a variety of red tones. “Hagemeister have been a reliable partner for years,” said Skuratov in praise of the company. “Their engineers and technicians are eager to experiment together with the architect to achieve the required surface quality and desired colour nuances.” Clinker brick enhanced the value of the “Egodom” site enormously, and the two residential towers have become a new landmark in north-east Moscow.

Egodom residential complex, Moscow

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»At first we wanted a deep, recessed joint, but due to the minimal depth of the Langeland clinker brick, we ultimately chose a joint with a subdued grey tone recessed by 3 mm. This emphasises the clinker brick in the façade.«Hylke Zijlstra, Penta Architecten, Harlingen

Jan Bommerhuis, Amsterdam

Over the past few years, one of the main traffic arteries in east Amsterdam – de Wibaut-straat – has been given a complete facelift. A major part of this involved the Jan Bom-merhuis. Built in 1961, this building served as a faculty of the Hogeschool Amsterdam. In 2018, the building was transformed into a building complex with 162 flats. Project architect Hylke Zijlstra chose clinker brick of the Langeland HSG sorting from Hagemeister for the façade design and tied this in with the original clinker brick masonry of the Jan Bommerhuis.

Throughout the redesign, the original radi-ance of the complex had to be retained. The recessed top storey was demolished. In its place, the architect created a new, larger structure framed in steel. This design contrasts with the reserved architecture of the rest of the building’s shell. The façade design also fea-tures horizontal clinker brick banding, so the old clinker brick was replaced to accommoda-te this. "The existing wall ties and substructure were no longer usable. The original clinker brick had to be removed, and a carrier for a new clinker brick sorting was installed," explained project architect Zijlstra.The Langeland HSG clinker brick from Ha-gemeister was selected as the new sorting. "This brick came the closest to the original in terms of its size and colour. We also wanted a harder-fired extruded clinker brick on the heavily trafficked Wibautstraat to prevent the masonry becoming dirty," explained Zijlstra.

The Langeland HSG sorting impresses with its white-beige basic tones with subtle traces of black-anthracite coal smoke and a surface structure with a hand-finished look. Thanks to the brick’s especially narrow module size (40 mm in height), it was possible to capture and emphasise the horizontality of the building. "Sintering brings this façade clinker brick to life," remarked the project architect. The depth of 70 mm was determined together with the structural engineer. "Greater depth would not have been possible. It would have been too much weight for the structure," relayed Zijlstra.

Project data Jan Bommerhuis, Amsterdam – NLArchitecturePenta Architecten – HarlingenProject architectHylke ZijlstraClient BAM Wonen – AmsterdamClinker brickLangeland HSG SizeModF (290 x 70 x 40 mm)Clinker brick-covered surfaceapprox. 2,000 m²

A DISTRICT IN TRANSITIONThe clinker brick was laid on the façade of the Jan Bommerhuis in a stretcher bond with standing joints. The expansion joints are integrated into the masonry bond. "At first we wanted a deep, recessed joint, but due to the minimal depth of the Langeland clinker brick, we ultimately chose a joint with a subdued grey tone recessed by 3 mm. This emphasises the clinker brick in the façade," said Zijlstra in pointing out the distinctiveness of the joint selection.

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»We looked for a clinker brick with an attractive colour matching the city which mirrors the same vibrancy of the historical clinker brick in the city. We preferred a brick which hovers between the characteristics of tight and not tight. Not a hand-shaped clinker brick, but a brick with which we could realise the depth and vibrancy we had in mind for the large clinker brick surfaces.«Robert Alewijnse, DP6 architectuurstudio, Delft

Project data Focus Filmtheater, Arnheim – NLArchitectureDP6 architectuurstudio – DelftClientMunicipality of ArnheimBuilderBINX Smartility – GroenloClinker bricksHolsten GT and Liverpool GT+FU as well as Meißen BA on the east sideSizeWF (210 x 100 x 51 mm)Clinker brick-covered surfaceapprox. 1,800 m²

BRIDGE TO URBAN ARCHITECTUREThe city of Arnheim in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands has more to offer than things historical. There’s plenty for culture lovers to dis-cover here as well. One highlight is the newly designed Focus Filmtheater, which was cleverly inserted next to the Eusebius church in a way which suits the urban nature of the city centre. As a special feature, the DP6 architectuurstudio from Delft, Netherlands integrated a forgotten historical lane into the new construction which, as a transparent element, makes it possible to see the church tower. Project architect Robert Alewijnse sought a connection to the classical architecture of the city centre with the Liverpool GT + FU, Holsten GT and Meißen BA sortings from Hagemeister.

The new Focus Filmtheater is located directly next to the landmark of the city of Arnheim: the striking late Gothic Eusebius church. The ar-chitectural firm brought back the forgotten lane called "de Torensteeg" as a structuring element in the new construction by transforming it into a glassed-in passageway. "'Nieuwe Torensteeg' now splits the volume of the film theatre into two parts, enabling the new construction to match the scale of the city centre. The view of the church is retained from the area in front of the film theatre," explained project architect Alewijnse. The building shell of the Focus Filmtheater impresses with its high glass skirting with richly

detailed masonry above. To match the urban structure, the façades were clad with clinker brick of the Liverpool GT + FU and Holsten GT sortings from Hagemeister. "We looked for a clinker brick with an attractive colour matching the city which mirrors the same vibrancy of the historical clinker brick in the city. We preferred a brick which hovers between the characteris-tics of tight and not tight. Not a hand-shaped clinker brick, but a brick with which we could realise the depth and vibrancy we had in mind for the large clinker brick surfaces," explained Alewijnse.

On the lower part of the film theatre, which is particularly impressive thanks to its relief work featuring a horizontal band of clinker brick, the façades were implemented with the Liverpool GT + FU sorting from Hagemeister. This dark brown coal-fired clinker brick with a sanded back stretcher was laid with both fronts and backs facing the outside. On the top part of the building with round windows and window lintels, the warm red coal-fired clinker brick of the Holsten GT sorting was used.

The façades were clad with bricks in a random bond and cross bond with recessed joints. By using the Meißen sorting on the back of the film theatre, a bridge was built to the urban villas being built between the theatre and the Eusebius church

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Focus F i lmtheater, Arnheim

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pronova BKK adminis t ra t ion bui ld ing, Leverkusen

Pronova BKK has found a new location for its headquarters in the district of Wiesdorf-Süd in Leverkusen. The Aachen architects pbs have created approximately 12,900 m² of rental space in cooperation with the project devel-opers from Landmarken AG. The friendly and bright ambience inside is underlined by the façade design in earthy tones. Hagemeister clinker bricks from the Gotland FU+WS sorting give the building a warm appearance.

The perimeter block development of the 4 or 6-storey building forms a new landmark in the district. The effect of the peak of the building on the corner of Peschstrasse and Breidenbachst-rasse as a landmark is underlined by a special design of the façade with a rounding off of the façade front on the street side and pronova BKK's logo. A two-storey glass façade in the area of the main entrance and a large ope-ning in the area of the conference and training rooms in the west wing of the building interrupt the regular appearance of the façade. Two large-format cuts for roof terraces and balconies also differentiate the street-side view. In its exter-nal appearance, this design ensures a loose-ning and structuring of the façade and building.

The existing development was included in the planning, so the office and administrative com-plex on either side harmoniously adjoins this on four floors by tapering back on Lichstraße.

The window openings are framed by dark grey aluminium frames which, together with the ventilation wings, enable a colour scheme and differentiation of the overall façade. When designing the building envelope, the architects opted for Hagemeister clinker bricks, which serve here as cladding and as a valuable complement to the thermal insulation composite system. The earthy grey tones of the Gotland sorting give the building a warm character with its rough, brick-like surface structure and thus reflect the friendly ambience from inside to out. As a thin format (240 x 52 mm), in a wild band, processed alternately, the strip façade radiates dynamism with its curved corner.

Together with the gardens of the existing buildings, a green courtyard was created for recreational purposes, which can be used by all employees. The open parking spaces with pergola planting and trees in the courtyard round off the harmonious overall concept.

EARTH TONES GIVE NEW BUILDING A WARM CHARACTER

Project data pronova BKK administration building, Leverkusen – DArchitecturepbs architects, AachenProject developerLandmarks AG, AachenClinker bricksGotland WS + FU clinker stripsFormatDF (240 x 14-16 x 52 mm)Clinker brick-covered surfaceapprox. 4,000 m²

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The construction of a new residential area has brought life back to the fallow land of the former Barmbek goods station in the imme-diate vicinity of the Stadtpark Winterhude in Hamburg, Germany. As a prominent landmark at the southern entryway to the neighbour-hood, an angular complex with a 12-storey residential high-rise designed by local firm Pawlik Architekten greets residents.

To carry on the tradition of clinker brick architecture of the surrounding area, bricks ranging from red to red-multicoloured were chosen as the material for the building fronts facing the street. The architects of the entrance building interpreted them in a contemporary way. "We designed the shell of the vertically tiered high-rise as a 'stone net' which also spans the interior rooms and the outdoor seating areas in front," explained Mirco Quandt. "By designing loggias within this membrane instead of balconies in front, and by merging different façade components into framed elements, we achieved a tidy cubature with a deliberately calm overall appearance."

Despite its large volume, the building emana-tes a certain degree of lightness. "By com-

A LANDMARK AT THE OLD GOODS STATIONbining bricks with elements surrounded by metal frames, like the windows, the building could be lightened up and given a calm horizontal façade arrangement," remarked the project architect. The structured surface effect is reinforced by the material selection here. Thanks to their dark red-brown nuances and character-rich coal fire markings, clinker bricks of the "Holsten" sorting from Hagemeister fit into the intended colour concept perfectly. Normal-sized bricks were used on the upper floors, whereas thin bricks were used on the lower storeys. This adds an additional element of separation to the building.

Finally, the high aesthetic demands had to be balanced with the estimated construction costs. For optimum outer wall thickness and efficiency of space, the architects decided to use tiles instead of bricks. "Since the 'Holsten' clinker brick tiles are cut from full bricks, the details could be chosen in such a way that the outer façade level doesn’t have a two-dimen-sional effect," said Quandt, happily adding: "When you look at the finished building, you can’t tell that half bricks were used instead of full ones."

Stadtpark area, Hamburg

Project data Stadtpark area, Hamburg – D ArchitectureFrank Pawlik Architekten – HamburgClientEngel & Völkers Development GmbHClinker bricksHolsten GT+FU clinker brick tilesSizeNF (240 x 15 x 71 mm) and DF (240 x 15 x 52 mm)Clinker brick-covered surfaceapprox. 2,800 m²

»Since the 'Holsten' clinker brick tiles are cut from full bricks, the details could be chosen in such a way that the outer façade level doesn’t have a two-dimensional effect. When you look at the finished building, you can’t tell that half bricks were used instead of full ones.«Mirco Quandt, Frank Pawlik Architekten, Hamburg

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»Clinker fits into this area with its industrial past and surrounded by water. The material is also timeless and sustainable.«Jeroen Geurst, Geurst & Schulze architects, The Hague

The building was awarded the Amsterdam Zuiderkerkpreis in 2018. The jury's assessment stated: "It was the simplicity and accuracy that particularly impressed the jury."

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Cruquius 1.1, Amsterdam

Cruquius Island in the Eastern Docklands in Amsterdam is currently changing from an indus-trial area to a residential and working quarter, while retaining its robust character. According to the plans of the architects from The Hague Geurst & Schulze, two residential and com-mercial buildings were created on Cruquius Island. When designing the façade, architect Jeroen Geurst opted for the Hagemeister sorting Langeland HSG. The beige-white clinker with its hand-like surface texture goes well with the area with industrial charm and surrounded by water.

The renewal of the Cruquius district differs from other area developments in Amsterdam. So, there is no holistic urban development plan for the island. Instead, different project developers are offered the opportunity to use their creativity within the framework of a predefined "game rule card". This specifies the framework condi-tions for the development on Cruquius Island.

On the former premises of the concrete factory, the project developer Amvest created two L-shaped residential and commercial buildings. The complex designed by Geurst & Schulze architects houses 116 rental apartments, 3 commercial spaces and 66 underground par-king spaces. The buildings on Plot 1.1 in the planning area enclose a courtyard with private terraces and a community area.

The façades of Cruquius 1.1 are subdivi-ded with pillars, horizontal ledges and wide protruding balconies. The top two residential floors are set back and offer space for deep roof terraces that extend over the entire width of the apartments. For the façade design, Hage-meister clinker bricks from the Langeland HSG sorting were used: "Clinker fits into this area with its industrial past and surrounded by water. The material is also timeless and sustainable", says architect Jeroen Geurst. The Langeland HSG stone has beige-white basic shades with discreet black-anthracite coal streaks.

In addition to traditional brickwork, prefabri-cated clinker elements were chosen especially for the horizontal façade components. The advantage for the project architect is obvious: "The use of prefabricated clinker parts does not require auxiliary structures for the clinker work, especially on the balconies. Vertical work is also difficult to build by hand." The façade was created without joints. Together with an recessed joint and the long format of the clinker, an interesting play of shadows was created here, which creates an "architectural sharpening" on the building.

Project data Residential building Cruquius 1.1, Amsterdam – NLArchitectureGeurst & Schulze architects, The HagueClientAmvest, AmsterdamConstructorde Nijs, AmsterdamClinker bricksLangeland HSGSizeModF (290 x 90 x 45 mm)Clinker brick-covered surfaceapprox. 3,000 m²

STYLISH LIVING BY THE WATER

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Project data Office building, Ahaus – DArchitectureWeitkamp + Partner, AhausClinker brickLiverpool GT SF and Weimar HS ModFFormatSF (365 x 115 x 52 mm) and ModF (290 x 115 x 52 mm)Clinker brick-covered surfaceapprox. 1,000 m²

Of f ice bui ld ing, Ahaus

Directly on the border of the Netherlands lies the small town of Ahaus. The highlight is Schloss Ahaus, which is right on the edge of the city centre and is an excursion destination for tourists and locals alike. Not far from the castle, a community of tax consultants has established its new headquarters. The façade of the elongated building is adorned with Hagemeister clinker bricks in the Liverpool and Weimar sortings.

Schorlemerstraße is a typical arterial road: At the beginning residential development domi-nated the picture, further out of town various trades settled. Directly within this transition from residential to retail, a community of tax consul-tants has erected its new office building. The alignment of the site was also a particularly challenging task that had to be solved in the architectural planning, says architect Tobias Mauritz, Managing Director at Weitkamp + Partners: "The challenge was to create a suc-cessful structure on the rather elongated site that would blend in perfectly with the surrounding area."

The architects therefore designed two long aisles with different heights. The front part has two storeys, the rear part is slightly offset and accommodates three storeys. This creates a

spacious and easily accessible roof terrace on the front part, where employees can also spend their breaks in summer.

The office building impresses with its timeless and modern choice of materials; the use of clin-ker bricks picks up on the existing brick façades that characterise Ahaus. The Liverpool sorting with its rich shades of brown and anthracite-co-loured coal-fired smoke gives the new building a solid and stable character. Façade bands finished with the light, cream-coloured Weimar HS sorting visually stretch the building and give it a clear horizontal structure that supports its modern appearance. This stretching effect is reinforced by the special format of the Liverpool stone with a length of 365 mm. The model for this was the stone of the nearby Ahaus Kultur-quadrat, also supplied by the Hagemeister clinker factory, which also has the same length. "It was important to give the building a timeless but modern design language, so the choice of material fell to a high-quality but restrained clinker brick," explains Tobias Mauritz. With the two clinker brick sortings Liverpool and Weimar, an exciting and at the same time harmonious interplay has been created that allows the façade to live and at the same time adapts perfectly to the site and the immediate surroundings.

HORIZONTALITY WITH A ROOF TERRACE

»It was important to give the buil-ding a timeless but modern design language, so the choice of material fell to a high-quality but restrained clinker brick.«Architect Tobias Mauritz, Managing Director Weitkamp + Partner, Ahaus

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Partner of BDA Münster-Münsterland

Publisher: Hagemeister GmbH & Co. KG, KlinkerwerkBuxtrup 3 · D-48301 NottulnPhone: 00 49 - 2502 8040 Fax: 00 49 - 2502 7990info@hagemeister.de

www.hagemeister.deEditorial office and graphic-design: presigno GmbH, DortmundAdditional photo credits at the edge of the images

In ter v iew wi th Mat th ias Haber

Where are the trends and developments in German architecture heading?Trends don't interest me at all. They are fads that first have to prove themselves to be timel-ess, to become style. This is then relevant as a reference, if necessary.

What for you is the role of clinker brick in architecture?Clinker bricks have always played a major role in architecture and will continue to do so in the future. The material is the actual symbol for "I am building a house". Its use is therefore always an option that I consider when desig-ning architecture.

Clinker bricks are a well-tried building material. How does it shape architecture in Germany and in Europe as a whole? In Germany and elsewhere, Clinker bricks have shaped buildings, towns, cities and even regions. Through perceptive habits it shapes their identity and is therefore still very important today. In the past, there were many moulded parts that could be laid as cornices. I find these very interesting.

What are the properties of clinker brick that impress you?I like the scale. The installation always creates an immanent pattern, or at least a structure, which one has to think about.

For which types of building is clinker brick particularly suitable?Clinker is suitable for all building types in the same way. From an urban planning perspecti-ve, for example, it would seem very attractive to me to build a stadium of steel and brick that would fit into the city as part of it, such as the Wrigley Field Stadium in Chicago. Unfortuna-tely, the fire protection and safety standards that are required today prevent this.

How does your architecture define itself? What architectural influences have you characterised in your career?The architecture is again and again compo-sed of found elements of building culture. This basic idea of my work was already reflected in my master's thesis at ETH Zurich. In it I con-centrated on a manageable area of buildings with the theme "the pedestal". I was able to trace a kind of evolution through the analysis of existing buildings, primarily in the cities of Munich, Vienna and Zurich, where I was stay-ing during this time. And that's exactly what interests me: To take another step in evolution. To develop something out of the given, e.g. a situation, context, portfolio, conditions, and to help myself from the rich treasure of architec-ture. This creates something that is familiar only at first glance, something that is new and surprising at second glance. This way of wor-king was shaped step by step in many phases of my career, such as my studies in Munich with my current partner Andreas Hild, my time at ETH Zurich with Hans Kollhoff or in Chica-go. However, this development never really stops. I am currently influenced by my work in the Hild und K office with my partners Dionys Ottl and Andreas Hild, with our employees or by cooperation with colleagues such as Bruno Krucker and Stephen Bates at the Technical University of Munich.

What models are you guided by in your designs?Fine role models can actually be found everywhere. In Munich, for example, there are many good buildings that were designed at the turn of the century by Carl Hocheder, Robert Rehlen, Hans Grässel or Ludwig Na-neder. I like to be guided by Theodor Fischer's urban design, large urban blocks such as those of Kay Fisker, Hamburg Kontorhäuser or the buildings in and around Chicago from Adler & Sullivan to Frank Lloyd Wright.

What are the architectural limits of clinker brick? For which types of building is it not suitable?In my opinion, there are no architectural boundaries, perhaps technical boundaries. We have to be aware of this.

What measures can be taken to preserve and promote clinker culture?In my opinion, it is important that the room for manoeuvre for designing with clinker bricks and the clinker bricks themselves are expan-ded again. This concerns the development of custom-made products for a specific project, which we have already partially carried out together with Hagemeister. Architects must be able to determine details of brick colour, shape or laying flexibly to a certain extent in cooperation with the manufacturing com-panies. In addition, a repertoire for special shaped parts is to be rediscovered, as it existed earlier, for example, in the field of cornices.

"Take another step in evolution."

For architect Matthias Haber, part-ner of Hild und K Architekten based in Munich, the motto of the Italian architect and designer Aldo Rossi "Architecture is architectures" also applies to his work. In an interview, he explains how he was able to trace a kind of evolution in architec-ture through the analysis of existing buildings, which models his designs are based on, and which characte-ristics of the clinker brick particularly convince him.

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