An Airplane Wing for Design Products

By Editorial Staff - 5 June 2024
Pichler projects has participated in the project

Inspired by the sleek, long lines of an airplane wing, the flagship store built in Herford, Germany, for Bora, a company specializing in kitchen interiors, is rooted in the company’s visionary ethos of “The End of Normal”. The structure, conceived by Lorenzateliers, embodies innovation, providing a space to showcase the company’s creations in a unique and captivating shopping experience.

In this context, the invaluable technical expertise of Pichler projects was instrumental in the meticulous study and realization of the structure. Built using dry-layered technology on steel supporting elements weighing a total of 645 tons, the complex proudly displays its inherently technological inclination and lines imbued with a striking visual appeal. The juxtaposition of crisp and flowing geometries evokes echoes of the Futurist movement and seamlessly integrates with the ethos inherent in the company’s product lines.

Un’ala d’aeroplano dedicata a prodotti di design © Michael Trappmann, courtesy Pichler projects

The interior features a series of exhibition spaces, live cooking stations, tasting counters, and zones for exhibitions and events, all set in a meticulously crafted and adaptable environment. Serving as a hub for culinary and design enthusiasts alike, the store was completed in just 18 months, thanks to off-site industrialization spearheaded by Pichler projects. This approach not only minimized costs and construction times, but also significantly improved overall sustainability. In fact, the architects paid particular attention to the latter aspect: the steel used for the construction is 100% recyclable; and numerous green solutions were integrated into the project, such as geothermal and photovoltaics, which made it possible to achieve the KfW 55 standard. Additionally, the combined effect of the technological and design measures are central to the building being defined as an nZEB – Nearly Zero Energy Building.

In terms of structural design, the flagship store’s architecture is characterized by the use of IPE curved beams with variable sections. These beams are strategically used with gusseted angles and pre-drilled base plates for bolted connections, effectively defining the rhomboid sections that are the distinctive architectural feature of the wing. Additional components, spaced 90 cm
apart, were incorporated to support the envelope, which is topped by a metal seam roof.

Overall, the building enriches the historical and cultural context of Herford, proud of its strong manufacturing tradition, with an innovative and appealing architectural design.