ThyssenKrupp Quarter wins top Prime Property Award at Expo Real

ThyssenKrupp Quarter in the German city of Essen has been awarded first prize at the Prime Property Awards organised by Union Investment Real Estate at Expo Real.

The 19,360 m² L-shaped complex incorporates facades of perforated stainless steel sheets and the 400,000 horizontal louvres track the sun to ensure maximum solar shading. Situated on a former industrial site, it replaces 15 separate locations in one headquarters.

The jury was impressed by the structure's uniform ‘architectural design language and the property’s emergency efficiency features,’ according to Frank Billand, a board member of Union Investment.

Second prize was awarded to Kaufhaus Tyrol department store developed by Signa Prime Holdings in Innsbruck, Austria, while third prize went to Swedish investor Jernhusen AB for the Kungsbrohuset office scheme in Stockholm.

In addition to the main prizes, the jury awarded a special prize to Norwegian investor Inspiria Eiendom for the Inspiria Science Centre in Graalum, Norway.

The prime property awards recognise European real estate investment projects that combine commercial success with sociocultural and ecological sustainability.

The 2012 competition attracted an impressive 160 entries relating to properties in 19 European countries. Fifteen projects from Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK were shortlisted.

‘The Prime Property Awards showcases the fascinating diversity of approaches to sustainable practice in Europe,’ Reinhard Kutscher, board member of Union Investment Real Estate told a full house during the award ceremony held at the end of a day-long conference on sustainability.

WINNERS

ThyssenKrupp Quarter
Developer ThyssenKrupp
Architects: JSWD, Caix & Morel et Associés

Kaufhaus Tyrol, Innsbruck
Signa Prime Holding
David Chipperfield Architects

Kungsbrohuset, Stockholm
Jernhusen AB
Strategisk Arkitekur

Inspiria Science Centre, Graalum, Norway
Inspiria Eiendom AS
AART architects A/S

Go to www.prime-property-award.com or click on the link below for more information on the award-winning projects, as well as the 11 other short-listed candidates.