The guests were welcomed at a christmas market in front of the building to celebrate the completion of the shell of the timber-hybrid office building in a christmas atmosphere. The opening speeches by Thomas Götzen (Managing Partner of INTERBODEN), Josef Hinkel (First Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf), Carsten Boell (Managing Director of INTERBODEN Gewerbewelten) and Gerhard G. Feldmeyer (Senior Partner HPP Architekten) took place on the ground floor of the building - the trend-setting charisma of the project in terms of circular construction was explained in particular.
Carsten Boell describes the milestone: "At this point, on the one hand, it means looking back and thanking all the companies involved and advising on the construction and, above all, the people who are doing pioneering work here with us. On the other hand, it means looking to the future: the upcoming interior construction, the implementation of the mobility concept beyond the city limits, and the continued pursuit of circular construction." Gerhard G. Feldmeyer adds: "We asked ourselves how we could translate the theme of the circular economy - cradle-to-cradle - into architecture. Using wood as a superior sustainable raw material, if it is provided that the material comes from the local area instead of being transported over thousands of kilometers."
In line with the cradle-to-cradle principle, most of the materials used in the project can be returned to the material cycle. In the past seven months, around 2,150 m3 of wood from sustainable forestry has been used, among other things for the project's characteristic timber facade and in columns and ceilings. By substituting concrete, the carbon footprint in the construction is reduced by about 1,900 tons (40 percent) compared to conventionally constructed new buildings. The Cradle will be completed in 2023.
