Hadi Teherani Architects

More than buildings

In our summer 2024 issue, we presented the ultra-modern, architecturally outstanding office building The Bow, which is currently being built on the freight yard site in Freiburg im Breisgau and in which we are involved as a project partner. The Bow is being designed by the renowned office of Hamburg star architect Hadi Teherani. We spoke to him about his understanding of architecture, the requirements for contemporary office buildings and the special challenges of the project.

Photo © Martin Mai

Germany’s first railroad station at Frankfurt Airport, the Cologne Crane Houses or the Dancing Towers in Hamburg have become widely recognized landmarks alongside numerous international projects. Is there a “Teherani method”?

Hadi Teherani:For me,
architecture is about more than just designing buildings. It is about creating spaces that arouse emotions, create identity and offer sustainable added value for people and the environment. Urban space, architecture, interior design, product design and communication design are inextricably linked.

Which planning tools does your office use?

Hadi Teherani:
We rely on a wide range of digital planning and visualization tools to make our designs as precise and tangible as possible. In addition to model-based BIM planning, we rely on Rhinoceros in the conceptual area, which allows us every degree of freedom, including free-form modeling. With the help of Grashopper, we can customize our workflow. trically. This helps us to process the most complex tasks “from conceptual to manufactoral” quickly and precisely. We also work with software for real-time visualization and virtual reality environments. These technologies enable us to dynamically accompany architecture from the first draft to realization, to efficiently design the creative process and to enrich the dialogue with clients and specialist planners through vivid representations and simulations.

What role does the concept of sustainability play?

Hadi Teherani:
For us, sustainability is not just a trend, but a matter of course and an essential component of every project. It’s about creating architecture that lasts in the long term – aesthetically, functionally and ecologically. We only have one planet and it is our responsibility to think holistically in every project and to consider the aspects of environmental friendliness and sustainability.

Photo © Roger Mandt, Berlin

Photo © Panoptikon State S.R.L. / Hadi Teherani

Photo © Roger Mandt, Berlin

The Bow is a flagship project. In your opinion, what are the requirements for contemporary office buildings?

Hadi Teherani:
Above all, an office building must offer flexibility and adaptability. The offices of the future will create spaces that promote both concentrated work and creative collaboration. They will need to adapt to ever-changing ways of working while meeting the highest sustainability standards. In The Bow project, we were able to implement precisely these aspects. It offers flexible space concepts, sustainable architecture and modern technologies that create an inspiring and productive working environment.

We also achieved this with the Deutschlandhaus in Hamburg, which won the ICONIC AWARD 2024 “Best of the Best”, and the Innovationsbogen in Augsburg, a sustainable office building that combines flexible workspaces and high energy efficiency. Both projects, completed in 2024, reflect our commitment to innovative and sustainable architecture.

What did the client want from the architecture of The Bow and what was the guiding architectural principle behind your design?

Hadi Teherani:
The client wanted creative architecture that would stand out from competing projects within the surrounding freight yard.The building stands out from the rest of the site without losing focus on economic efficiency. We wanted to create a modern yet timeless office building that stands out in the “war for talent”. The dynamic bar of the building follows the curve of the site and is accentuated by an expressive eight-metre cantilever at the north-western end, giving the building a unique identity.

What challenges did the project present you with?

Hadi Teherani:
The precise resolution of the round shape into a non-visible polygonality was very important in order to stay within budget. It was also an important step for us to convince the client of the photovoltaic façade. Thus, after the new Volksbank building at the main station designed by us, another sustainable building block for Freiburg is being created by Hadi Teherani Architects.