Bickenbach, Germany
2015 - 2019
Alnatura Darmstadt
The new campus headquarters for Alnatura, an innovative health food company, are built on an integrated and visible foundation reflective of its founding philosophy – “meaningful for man and earth.”
Project details
Located on the outskirts of Darmstadt, Germany, the new 62,500 m2 Alnatura campus serves as the company’s new headquarters – comprising of an office, an organic food supermarket, and a public park with an attached kindergarten.
As the operator of over 80 organic supermarkets across the country, our design for the headquarters aimed not only to support its daily operations but also to embody its values. The campus is designed as an expression of the company’s identity – where both people and ecological stewardship come together in one environment.
The project was awarded with the German Sustainability Award in 2020.
“The design for Alnatura stands out because it lets nature reclaim the formerly concrete covered space on its own terms – embracing a wild, untamed landscape instead of shaping it to fit human expectations.”
Franziska Meisel
Global Director, Landscape
Informed by the environment
Built on a former military brownfield, the landscape has been transformed into a productive and ecological landscape. The site, which was once covered and sealed in concrete, now makes up campus grounds that are used for farming and integrated into a holistic water management system. Stepping away from the human perception of how nature should look, careful planning has been dedicated to the natural regeneration of the environment. The landscape now serves as a sanctuary for flora and fauna – including the protected sand lizard.
Existing concrete on site was either recycled and used as sub-base gravel, atrium steps, retaining walls, new paving, and steps or retained in the parking areas. Trees that needed removal were repurposed into wall cladding and furniture – demonstrating a cycle of reuse that is central to the campus design.
Contact
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Global Director, Landscape
Executive Partner
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