The over 100-year-old malthouse in Düsseldorf's Media Harbour has been converted into an attractive office building with an ingenious fire protection concept.

The Mälzerei, with its characteristic brick façade, was developed by the late architect Bob Gansfort with an eye to historical authenticity. The approximately 7,900 square metres of loft-style office space meet all the requirements for high-quality building and security technology.

To provide light-flooded rental units right into the centre of the building, the client (Hartmut Ibing, Düsseldorf) and architect developed a spectacular lighting solution in consultation with the listed building authorities. The gable end of the south section of the building, formerly a firewall, which was not subject to conservation requirements, was cut through on five levels to create a prestigious entrance area in the form of an elliptical, fully glazed atrium.

This multifunctional atrium was conceptually realised through the extensive use of fire-resistant glazing in conjunction with the sprinkler system of large parts of the atrium and the partial sprinkler system of the storeys.

The entire interior façade is fitted with storey-high Pilkington Pyrodur^® glazing for fire resistance class E 30 across five levels. The main function of the fire protection façade is to protect the utilisation units from the risk of vertical fire flashover to higher floors or fire compartments.

Aesthetic and safety aspects also determined the design of the fire protection façade. At the request of the client and architect, a filigree system construction in steel profile design was used, which further emphasises the character of transparency and lightness. The Pilkington Pyrodur^® glass type selected increases the safety properties to protect against breakthrough in the parapet area thanks to an integrated film.