The impressive main entrance of HDI Headquarters, designed by Christoph Ingenhoven, showcasing a contemporary design with high-quality materials and a welcoming approach
The impressive main entrance of HDI Headquarters, designed by Christoph Ingenhoven, showcasing a contemporary design with high-quality materials and a welcoming approach
Modern Workspaces with a flexible Structure
The new HDI-Gerling insurance headquarters in Hanover, Northern Germany, consolidates 1,800 employees from seven locations into a single, elevated six-story office building, surrounded by a green “carpet” of landscaped ribbons. The design by Christoph Ingenhoven was selected from a 2008 architectural competition involving five invited firms.
A central atrium, measuring 51 by 51 meters and usable for large events, serves as the transparent heart of the building. Around this atrium, three identical vertical circulation cores with panoramic lifts and U-shaped office wings are arranged. The building’s façades feature strip windows and stainless steel-clad parapets that reflect the surrounding greenery. The ground floor houses the lobby, a conference center, and the casino, and the roof is designed to be usable.
Modern, flexible workspaces are provided throughout the building, offering a non-hierarchical environment. Except for inner partition walls, the offices have glass façades, and a maximum of six employees share one office. The lighting system is regulated by daylight sensors and motion detectors. Energy is primarily sourced from a geothermal plant (80%) and district heat (20%), with cooling required only in extreme temperatures. During spring and autumn, the ventilation system is not used. Thermal activation of the slabs and parapets ensures a comfortable temperature, while a heat exchanger and the atrium function as thermal buffers to further reduce energy consumption.
