The new headquarters of Wera Werkzeuge in Wuppertal-Cronenberg impresses with its architecture and technical sophistication. The facade was inspired by the company's iconic screwdriver design in the form of a curved ‘Wera wave’. With an investment of 20 million euros, the project comprises the new building and renovation work on the existing building. The focus is on the glass facade, which fulfils the highest technical requirements and was implemented by Arnoldglas.
Facade as the centrepiece of the project
The centrepiece of the new building is the curved facade, which is not only a visual eye-catcher, but also a structural challenge. Jens Friedrich, Head of Industrial Engineering & Facility Management at Wera, explains: ‘Each pane element is individually curved and therefore unique.’
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The requirements for the glass were diverse: it had to provide excellent thermal insulation and sun shading, be mirrored from the outside and still allow a clear view to the outside. At the same time, the large-format glass panes had to act as fall protection.
Jens Friedrich: ‘We wanted a clearly limited view into the building in order to provide all employees with sufficient privacy despite the floor-to-ceiling windows, while at the same time the view to the outside should remain undisturbed.’
Glass facade from Hunsrücker Glasveredelung Wagener
Together with the architect, the Wera team decided to realise the project with Isolar member Hunsrücker Glasveredelung Wagener from the Arnold Glas Group (www.arnold-glas.de). In addition to the glass, Glasveredelung Wagener was also responsible for the entire exterior facade. The execution included the complete metal construction services for this project, from planning to production and installation of the facades.
Triple insulating glass Solarlux D40 from Arnold Glas was used here. With a Ug value of 0.6 W/(m²K), it guarantees high energy efficiency and protects against overheating in summer. The glass also protects employees from glare - a crucial factor in everyday office life. ‘The individually curved glass panes adapt perfectly to the dynamic architecture of the building,’ emphasises Bojan Gvozdarevic from Arnold Glas.
Facade as a semi-structural glazing system
A semi-structural glazing solution was chosen for the realisation, in which the glass panes are mounted horizontally and are not visible from the outside. This creates a smooth, continuous façade surface that seamlessly integrates the parapet and canopy.
The production of the horizontally curved glass in large formats required precision and expertise. Arnold Glas not only took on the glass production of the Arcon D40 glass, but also the metal construction services - from planning to production and installation of the facade.
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As the construction method does not allow for conventional window ventilation, an automatic ventilation system was integrated. This complements the highly functional glass to ensure a pleasant indoor climate. The perfect balance between privacy and openness was achieved through the mirrored exterior and the transparency from the inside to the outside.
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Today, the glass Wera Wave combines old and new parts of the building to create a modern administrative centre that is geared towards growth. With 180 employees on site, 65 of whom work in the new Wera-Welle, the new building offers sufficient space for future developments. This dynamism is reflected in the glass facade.
