Ihme Centre, Hanover
Ihme Centre, Hanover
This architectural transformation rejuvenates the brutalist Ihme Complex by converting the former monolithic commercial office tower into a highly transparent, multi-family residential high-rise. The design replaces the heavy concrete exterior with a reflective, floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall that maximizes natural daylight within the newly created apartment units. Strikingly cantilevered, continuous concrete floor plates project outward from the structural core, forming wrapping balcony bands that add a strong horizontal rhythm and break up the tower's massive vertical presence. Towards the upper levels, the building's volume steps back dynamically through a series of progressive setbacks, creating expansive, tiered rooftop terraces that offer panoramic views. Architecturally, the structure is clearly zoned into a warm, modularly grid-patterned lower podium—which grounds the building and hosts community functions—and a lightweight, filigree glass tower rising fluidly above it. At the ground level, an open colonnade structure establishes a seamless transition into the public realm. This holistic approach concludes with green rooftop surfaces integrated for urban agriculture and a direct, terraced connection to the adjacent Ihme River promenade.