Frontal view of a multi‑storey timber‑hybrid building featuring a distinctive triangular façade pattern, regular balcony zones and an open forecourt.

The Cradle Düsseldorf

Lounge area in front of a vertical plant wall with striking stairs in bold orange, open room design with seating areas

A statement for circular construction

Located directly by the water in Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen, the project embraces sustainability as an opportunity. The building functions as a material depot: all components are documented, demountable, and reusable. At the time of development, this was still a largely unfamiliar approach. Working within a specially curated, integral team, new questions and circular solutions were explored and developed.

At a Glance

Timberhybrid office building with integrated façade

CradletoCradle principle as guiding concept

Madaster Germany pilot project: first newbuild project in Germany to be registered on the Madaster platform, a global online cadastre for materials and building products

In numbers: 56% improved material health, 50% reduced CO₂ footprint, 90% material recyclability, 2,150 m³ of timber from sustainable German forestry

Awarded: DGNB Gold targeted, and prizes such as the MIPIM/AR Future Project Award and Iconic Award: Innovative Architecture

Office, mobility hub, gastronomy & public uses

By the water, within the district

As the last available plot on the waterfront, The Cradle completes Speditionstraße in Düsseldorf’s Medienhafen. The elliptical green space in front of the building creates a place to stay and connects with the public realm. The barrierfree façade opens towards the harbour basin and the adjoining promenade, with gastronomy activating the ground floor a welcoming gesture that links architecture, groundfloor uses and the city.

Architecture with identity

The rhombic integrated timber façade is more than a design element. It is structure, solar shading, creates loggias and embodies the CradletoCradle idea. Developed parametrically through more than 100 models based on solar angles and sightline the Vshaped larch timber supports vary in dimension and orientation, appearing open or closed depending on the viewpoint. Together with the triangular impact panes, they create rhythm and transformability, making the façade an identityforming element both inside and out.

Demountable timber hybrid

The Cradle is conceived as a sustainable timberhybrid structure in element construction. With the exception of the basement levels, ground floor, and central core, all major components are made of timber. The upper storeys were assembled as prefabricated modules with plugin and screw connections, designed according to the “Design for Disassembly” principle. This enables later dismantling and reuse of components and forms the basis of the circular building concept.

Circularity down to the detail

The implementation of circularity is reflected in numerous constructive decisions: special connectors were developed for the joints between façade supports and edge beams, allowing dismantling without destruction. Floor slabs consist of layers that can be separated by material type. Exposed installations, accessible service runs, and the deliberate omission of cladding ensure that the technical infrastructure remains flexible and adaptable. The concept is complemented by greenlease clauses in tenancy agreements and a takeback obligation for the timber implemented by the timber construction company.

Documented & monetised material depot

In line with the CradletoCradle principle, The Cradle functions as a documented rawmaterial depot. A digitally linked material passport (Circularity Passport®) records all properties of installed products from material health and recyclability to dismantling potential. Through the Madaster platform, the building was monetised as the first newbuild project in Germany. More than 90% of the materials are recyclable; material health improved by 56% compared to conventional buildings, and the CO₂ footprint by 50%.

Space for people and ideas

Inside, exposed timber surfaces, clay walls and planted areas create a healthy indoor climate. CO₂ monitoring, activatedcarbon filters and pollutantfree materials place human wellbeing at the centre. The flexibly divisible office units and modular fitout enable individual usage concepts today and in the future.

Added value for the district & the environment

The ground floor accommodates gastronomy, event space, and a mobility hub with ecar and ebike sharing. Green roof terraces, nesting boxes, and insect habitats support biodiversity. The building thus becomes an active part of the neighbourhood: open, sustainable, and futureready.

Project Profile

Project: The Cradle
Location: Düsseldorf
Client: The Cradle GmbH & Co. KG
GFA: 11.400 m²
Services: Architecture
Completion: 2023
Uses: Office, co working, gastronomy, mobility hub
Awards: MIPIM/The Architectural Review Future Project Award 2018, ICONIC AWARD: Innovative Architecture 2018, Special Award BIM Heinze ArchitektenAWARD 2020
Certifications: DGNB Gold targeted

Roof terrace with wooden decking and greenery, view of surrounding high-rise buildings with colourful façades and river landscape

Open-plan office space with modular workstations, exposed technical ceiling and large glass fronts with triangular structure

Interior with large glass fronts and view of the striking triangular structure of the façade, modern working environment with wooden flooring

Detailed view of the façade with triangular wood and metal modules, rhythmic structure and integrated balconies

Facade detail with geometric triangular modules made of wood and metal, clean lines and integrated balcony areas.

Interior with striking green plant wall and open staircase with wooden steps and glass railing, modern working environment

Interior with open seating areas and decorative wooden slats as room dividers, modern lighting and flexible furnishings