Kesselhaus
in Leverkusen

Folding sliding shutters breathe new life into the facade
of a historic building, designed by oxen architekten.

Built in 1948 on the ruins of its predecessor, which was destroyed in World War II, the 21-meter-high brick building in Leverkusen-Opladen, with its minimalist design and slender ribbon windows, is characteristic of early post-war modernism. The architectural solution combines a six-story “house-within-a-house” within the historic building envelope with a 4-story extension measuring around 1,000 m².

With the revitalization of the listed building, the Cologne-based firm oxen architekten succeeded in striking an architectural balance between preservation and change. In addition to the Corten steel cladding, EHRET folding sliding shutters define the character of the extension. Aluminum offers the desired lightness and flexibility, and expanded metal infill can also be easily implemented. Thanks to the movable sash elements, the façade takes on a new appearance depending on its use and the time of day.

The 228 folding sliding shutters can be opened at a 90-degree angle to the facade and lie flush against the facade when closed. The powder coating “rust effect, patina brown” creates the impression of aged metal and is hardly distinguishable from an oxidized metal surface at first glance. The boiler house clearly demonstrates how function, design, and material concept can be perfectly intertwined. The EHRET folding sliding shutters not only provide sun protection, but also become a defining design element in their own right.

Boiler house, Leverkusen
Renovated and expanded brick building of the former railway repair workshop to create the “Neue Bahnstadt Opladen” urban district. Office and commercial space on the ground floor, 32 designer apartments for short-term tenants on 1,174 square meters on the upper floors.

Builders:
Kesselhaus Leverkusen GbR, Essen

Architecture:
oxen architekten, Cologne

Products used:
228 MATRICO folding sliding shutters with SL 12 profile system and EFSL fitting system with aluminum expanded metal infill.
Powder coating with rust effect in patina brown.

Completion:
2024