Dutch studio MVRDV has completed an unusual architectural project called WERK12.
The new creation of the studio is a 5-storey mixed-use building with a total area of 7700 sq.m. It will house a gym, offices, bars and a restaurant. The building is located in Munich, not far from the Munich-East railway station, on the site where the plant used to be. This once-industrial area is rapidly transforming and the unusual building will be a great addition to it.
Bars and a restaurant are located on the ground floor, the 5th floor is occupied by the offices of Audi Business Innovation. And between them is a 3-storey gym with a swimming pool. The 5.5 meter high ceilings allow tenants to create their own add-ons between floors, complementing the space with new functional elements. Each floor is surrounded by a wide 3.5-meter terrace, which opens onto huge, floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer a magnificent view of the city.
In the best traditions of MVRDV, the building turned out to be not only functional, but also very unusual in appearance. The expressive facade is complemented by various exclamations, “typed” in 5-meter letters, and taken from the German version of the Donald Duck comics. They were used as a tribute to graffiti culture. At night, these inscriptions are an important part of the illumination of the building, creating a real light show. As conceived by the creators, playful exclamations on the facade make WERK12 less serious and more friendly to visitors and passers-by.
In general, the design looks very light, it actively uses simple geometric shapes and familiar materials. It was designed in tandem with local artists Christian Engelmann and Beat Engle.
