Chini & Company GmbH | Germany
20 september 2022
Project: Chini & Company GmbH, Kolbermoor | Germany
Architect: SAI Schleburg Generalplanungs GmbH, Rosenheim | Germany
Fabricator & Installer: Wittenauer GmbH, Sasbach | Germany
Façade System: Tray panels SZ20
Year of Construction: 2021
Product: ALUCOBOND® PLUS naturAL Line
Photos : Karl Lassacher Foto
CATWALK ON THE HORIZON
At Gang, the trouser manufacturer in Upper Bavaria, it is obvious that curves are what count not angles. Indeed, the company is committed to offering their clientele trousers and jeans crafted to fit every curvy figure. So, the new building was also destined to be curved, although the dominant style of buildings surrounding the company headquarters in Kolbermoor near Rosenheim is a traditional angular house with a sloping roof.
The new Gang building, just like a good pair of jeans, is a neat fit and scaled to suit the size of its surroundings: The building, comprising only three full storeys, is topped by a smaller roof pavilion, has a large forecourt and is situated at a good distance from its neighbours. Its shape and materials make a bold statement: it is a sweeping, kidney shape with rounded corners, clad in glazed bands and ALUCOBOND® tray panels which run uninterrupted around the whole façade. The slender aluminium composite tray panels are easily formed to follow the building’s curves.
The finish on ALUCOBOND® naturAL Pure Line 401, a linear structured matt reflective aluminium, emphasises the horizontal orientation and strikes a futuristic contrast with the rendered stone buildings, the green meadows and the forests around the site. The fonts used in the brand logo inspired the architects to select a ribbon façade and a curved floor plan, a form which refers not only to the brand but also offers functional advantages. It creates optimal lighting and ventilation conditions for the workplaces and there are views in all directions.
Overlooking the nearby mountains, the roof pavilion acts as a showroom for the family-run business and as a meeting and events venue. The building is set at an angle to the main road in order to enhance the entrance side’s visibility for the public, and on the curve jutting out towards the road, individual letters of the logo can be seen when travelling in both directions. The company attaches great importance to manufacturing its trousers and jeans sustainably in Europe and, consequently, sustainability was also a prerequisite for the new building.
The building’s heating and cooling systems only use renewable energy and thermal component activation. A brine heat pump and a photovoltaic system have been installed in the building, and the company also purchases green electricity. The façade also plays a significant role in energy efficiency: its large expanse of glass helps save on electricity for lighting and on heating in winter; in summer, external blinds and slats fixed on the upper storey protect against high temperatures.
Non-combustible ALUCOBOND® tray panels with a mineral-core vouchsafe high thermal and sound insulation for all the opaque façade areas. So, the building is not only a brilliant example of a flexible interior, a glamorous exterior curvature and authentic material, it also scores high due to its outstanding carbon footprint. Just the way a good pair of jeans should.