Commission, Essen, Germany

SwissCell are hybrid building panels consisting of a honeycomb core and a range of possible finishes. The core is made from hexagonally shaped cellulose (paper) bands which are soaked in resin and transformed by the application of heat and pressure into very thin and stiff but light structures. With specially developed machines, these panels can be manufactured in â factory or even on site.

In order to demonstrate the potential of the material, a temporary office space was to be constructed as part of “Ruhr2010,” the cultural capital of Europe in 2010.

The project is assembled from prefabricated, translucent, transparent, and opaque panels. The interior space is organized by space dividers made from honeycomb panels without the outer layer. The floor plate acts as a template upon which the panels are assembled. The panels then form the structural system so that no additional primary structure is necessary. In turn, opaque and transparent panels are used to allow natural light into the space and to structure the building volume. The plan is defined by the open central area, which is used as flexible office space, and by the enclosed peripheral spaces. These spaces give the building the necessary stiffness and contain special functions such as a meeting room, a wet zone, or a break area.