MESSE FRANKFURT – TOR NORD in Germany by INGO SCHRADER ARCHITEKT BDA

Article source: INGO SCHRADER ARCHITEKT BDA

A highly visible white oval roof covers the control area of the main gate of the Frankfurt trade fair, creating a new landmark at the city entrance. The oval form stands out against the orthogonal buildings of the fairground and the diversity of directions focussing at the main gate, enabling easy orientation. The construction consists of an irregular grid of steel lamella, which are oriented according to the loads and forces in the structure.

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

• Architects: INGO SCHRADER ARCHITEKT BDA
• Project: MESSE FRANKFURT – TOR NORD
• Location: Frankfurt, Germany
• Client: Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbH/ Marc Legg
• Roof area: ca. 593 square metres
• Clearance: ca. 4,55 m
• Height above street: ca. 5,30 m
• Steel weight: ca. 75 t (metric), 40 and 20 mm steel plates
• Total weight: ca. 110 t (metric)

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

• Roof materials: 50 mm plywood-panels, up to 18 m long, Polyurethane coating on top
• Construction time: ca. 3 months
• Mounting of roof: August 2nd, 2013
• Opening: August 12, 2013
• Structural engineer: Bollinger + Grohmann Ingenieure, Frankfurt
• Lighting design: LichtKunstLicht AG, Berlin
• Electrical engineer: Centerplan, Staufenberg
• Sanitary engineering: IGT Ingenieurgesellschaft für Gebäudetechnik, Pohlheim
• Survey: Vermessungsbüro Grandjean & Kollegen
• Site supervision: Ingenieurbüro für Hochbau, Weilrod

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

• General contractor:
  • Oval roof: Prebeck GmbH, Stahl- und Anlagenbau, Bogen,
  • With: Rubner Holzbau, HEWA, Merk timber
• Contractors:
  • Shopwindow construction: Heinrich Lamparter GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel
  • Carpenter: Gebrüder Jung GmbH, Bad Vilbel
  • Flooring: Sybotec GmbH, Frammersbach
  • Drywall: Rauscher GmbH, Frankfurt
  • Automatic doors: K & C, Hauenheim
  • Concrete: Wilhelm Schütz GmbH, Weilheim
  • Electric: Hildebrand Elektrotechnik, Frankfurt
  • Plumbing: Herbert Frankfurt GmbH, Frankfurt

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

The Tor Nord on the premises of the Messe Frankfurt has been awarded the Special Award for Sustainable Steel Architecture of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). The project had already been declared a winning project of the 2014 Iconic Awards by the German Design Council.

The Project

A highly visible white oval roof covers the control area of the main gate of the Frankfurt trade fair, creating a new landmark at the city entrance. The oval form stands out against the orthogonal buildings of the fairground and the diversity of directions focussing at the main gate, enabling easy orientation.

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

The supporting structure of the roof recalls natural, grown forms. This effect is not due to intentional formal mimicry. It results from a parametric design strategy and its mathematical and geometrical principles.

Like a tree, the roof’s structure resonates with the specific conditions of the site, thus creating a formal expression with striking logic. The roof displays the intrinsic beauty of the laws of nature, the construction’s delicacy and its elegant details. Close cooperation of planners and builders made this possible.

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

Image Courtesy © Ingo Schrader Architekt BDA

Tags: Frankfurt, Germany

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