Sintered Stone from Neolith® has been used to striking effect on a landmark project in Frankfurt by Hadi Teherani

Hadi Teherani is one of the most familiar and respected names in contemporary German architecture and design. As the architect behind Cologne’s globally celebrated Kranhaus, Teherani has a well-deserved reputation for designing audacious structures which fast become landmarks. Always looking to challenge perceptions and expectations, his latest building, a high-end residential and commercial complex named Flare of Frankfurt, is a physical distillation of his aesthetic philosophy.

An original character
From the outset, the design concept for Flare of Frankfurt had to strike a fine balance between a robust, durable structure and visual appeal. Importantly, it also had to relate and respond to the surrounding buildings, yet be individual enough to stand out from the crowd. The client wanted a building that would create an eye-catching aesthetic statement. This meant adopting an unusual and alternative cladding approach, which dispensed with the standard flat panels that typify many multi-storey buildings. Teherani applied his signature, holistic approach to the design of the facade, creating something both functional and emotionally appealing.

After drafting a number of different concepts, the architect decided on an angular, three-dimensional design for the facade panels. This gives the building singular points of visual interest, and complements the surrounding area. Crucially, the unconventional and striking exterior also serves a practical purpose, with exaggerated overhangs sheltering individual apartments from the elements.

Materials matter
For Flare of Frankfurt, Teherani was particularly interested in the properties of Sintered Stone and its suitability for the urban environment. With high levels of resistance to staining and pollution, combined with both lightweight and waterproof properties, it was ideal for handling the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

From a style perspective, the architect opted for an understated palette, allowing the facade’s raised geometric shapes to stand out without becoming overbearing. Neolith®’s Arctic White Silk was specified after many options were considered. Teherani felt that it offered greater scope than any of its competitors. Furthermore, Germany has a number of strict building codes and regulations which needed to be taken into account. Neolith met all these criteria.

Expert application
Approximately 6000-square-metres of Neolith slabs were cut to size – according to the blueprint specifications – and used. The 6mm thick surface was installed by curtain wall specialist Lithodecor, using a sandwich construction. Philipp Wirtz, Lithodecor’s Head of Product Management, worked directly with Teherani to bring the complex facade to life. He says, “As you can see from the finished structure, we were able to overcome difficulties to deliver a building with real character. A fantastic addition to Frankfurt’s diverse architecture. In terms of Neolith, there’s little competition when working on this type of facade project. It outperforms on all levels and in my opinion, the building will look as good in ten years as it does now.”

Contact Details
For more information please visit the Neolith® website.