With the construction of its new European headquarters in Ostfildern, Citizen Machinery Europe, one of the leading manufacturers of CNC automatic lathes and a subsidiary of Citizen Machinery Japan, is living up to its own high standards of sustainability.

The new building with a gross floor area of around 8,000 square meters comprises an office building with an exhibition area and production areas. All office and administrative functions will be arranged on one level, which will extend from the second floor of the office building to the hall area via a gallery level. On the first floor, the public area with exhibition and cafeteria will extend into the customer-accessible test room in the hall area. 

As an intelligent solution for a limited plot size, parts of the office building will be elevated. This will create areas for further use of the outdoor facilities, such as bicycle parking spaces, a terrace area and a weather-protected main entrance. This efficient use of space is one aspect of the sustainable orientation of the new building. Hybrid timber ceiling constructions in the office and exhibition areas are also part of this.

Formally, the building idea quotes the shapes and structures of the clockwork, a clock face, the hands or hour indices and translates them into architectural elements. This design is also implemented constructively, e.g. in the form of inclined supports of the office building, individual window mullions or elements of the mullion and transom façade. The material and color concept will follow the global CITIZEN CI with white metal façades and dark window bands and surfaces that structure the building volumes.

A central theme is the sustainable energy supply via a local heating network, which will cover the heating and cooling requirements of the buildings in combination with brine heat pumps and air-water heat pumps. The concept is rounded off by photovoltaic panels on the roofs and façades. Other façade surfaces will also be partially greened.

"With this investment, we are setting a clear signal for the future. Scharnhausen West not only offers us the space we need, but also a state-of-the-art infrastructure that meets our sustainability requirements."