Neolith\u2019s Flare for Fa\u00E7ades

Hadi Teherani is one of the most familiar and respected names in contemporary German architecture and design. As the architect behind Cologne’s globally celebrated Kranhaus, Teherani has a well-deserved reputation for designing audacious structures that fast become landmarks. Always looking to challenge perceptions and expectations, his latest building, a high-end residential and commercial complex named Flare of Frankfurt, is a physical distillation of his aesthetic philosophy. In the city’s densely populated centre, where space is at a premium, Teherani had to work intelligently to maximise on the client’s (Strabag Estates) ambitious brief for an achingly cool, ultra-modern combination of hotel, apartments and commercial space in a single complex.

AN ORIGINAL CHARACTER

From the outset, the design concept had to strike a fine balance between a robust, durable structure and visual appeal. The client wanted a building with original exterior design elements to create an eye-catching aesthetic statement. After drafting a number of different concepts, the architect eventually decided on an angular, three-dimensional design for the façade panels.

MATERIALS MATTER

Teherani is fascinated by new materials. For Flare of Frankfurt, he was particularly interested in the properties of Sintered Stone and its suitability for the urban environment. With high levels of resistance to staining and pollution, combined with being both lightweight and waterproof, it was ideal for handling the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. The architect opted for an understated palette, allowing the façade’s raised geometric shapes to stand out without becoming loud and overbearing. Neolith®’s Arctic White Silk was specified.

EXPERT APPLICATION

Approximately 6 000m 2 of Neolith slabs were used. The 6mm thick surface was applied by curtain wall specialists Lithodecor using a sandwich construction. According to Lithodecor’s Head of Product Management, Philipp Wirtz, who worked directly with Teherani, the project was not without its challenges. “This project required a high level of prefabrication due to the specification of the panels we were working with, which were storey sized (3.10m x 11.50m). You can imagine the care we had to take to transport them through Frankfurt’s busy streets without damaging them,” he says. “In terms of Neolith, there’s little competition when working on this type of façade project. It outperforms on all levels and, in my opinion, the building will look as good in ten years as it does now.” www.neolith.com