Commerzbank Norman Foster Associates

Mike Votruba #20073486

The role of this paper is to research and document Lord Foster’s

Commerzbank Headquarters in Frankfurt Germany and analyze its relative
success and failure. I will discuss the viability of the building’s sustainable
building principles and rationalize the ways the principles may be applied to
architectural discourse. I will begin my arguments first discussing the building’s
positive impact, then focus on it erroneous qualities, and then discuss how the
achievements of the building may be apprehended by architects in general.
The Commerzbank is a building that tries ambitiously to
1
run efficiently and provide a high quality of life by supplying
natural light and ventilation. To achieve these two ideals it relies
on a unique hybrid system that lights, cools, and ventilates using
minimal man made energy. Successful planning and a well
developed structural system allow for the natural systems of this
building to work quite effectively. Through the center of the
building, from the lobby at ground level, through each of the
building’s nine “sky gardens”, outside air is allowed to enter and
circulate freely5. As indicated by the diagram to the right, instead
of a solid core that is present in most conventional sky scrapers,
the core is hollow. Light as well as outside air is fed to the center of the building
through the roof and atrium, and through nine gardens that are four stories tall.
The gardens spiral around the building façade and convert carbon dioxide gas to
oxygen as it enters and leaves the building through mechanical vents4. Air is
transported through the atrium by the qualities of 1
natural airflow or by several large fans when
necessary6. The atrium as well as a large quantity of
unobstructed interior space is made possible by an
elemental Lord Foster move of exposing structure and
supporting the building externally. The plan of the tower to the right indicates the
void through the center of the building and shows that each of the three corners
are solid to accommodate for storage and transportation. All offices have access
to natural sunlight since opaque mass is limited to the corners of the building.
And therefore, offices are able to be open to natural ventilation whether they are
facing the exterior or interior of the building. People with interior backing offices
may open their windows to the atrium, while people with exterior backing offices
may open their windows partway to the outside. Outside opening windows are
made feasible by a double layer glazing system8. The first layer of glazing has
operable windows that open into a cavity between a second layer of glazing. The
second layer of glazing allows fresh air to enter through ventilation slots and
controls relative airflow and wind forces8. The windows of the building have been
selectively chosen so that there is no interference with sunlight passage.
Laminated glass without tint allows a maximum amount of sunlight into the tower
instead of reflecting it away4. As well, a fire gel laminate within the glass has fire
resistant properties and reduces the need for opaque fire separations that have
the potential to block sunlight4. In fact, in the central atria where daylight
penetration and safety requirements were both very important Foster worked
directly with DupontTM to develop a transparent glass that would have the
properties of both clear glazing and a fire barrier4.

The following diagrams demonstrate the 5

entrance of fresh air through a particular ‘sky garden’
in the bank tower. The first diagram demonstrates
ventilation and day lighting during the winter, while the
second diagram demonstrates ventilation and day
lighting during summer. From the diagrams it is
5
evident that natural ventilation is permitted throughout
summer and for the duration of winter outside air flow
is cut off. Throughout the winter a series of large fans
and a conventional airflow system circulate air
throughout the tower8. A conventional heating devise is used to heat the building
during winter months. Since the heating system does not improve the energy
conservation of this building, it would be favorable to see an energy saving
system used to heat instead. In terms of air conditioning, Foster does manage to
reduce the building’s energy consumption by means of a water cooled ceiling
system as opposed to a conventional air conditioner8.

However, there are many inventive ideas and methods that have been
thought of in the design of this tower, there is are still some erroneous qualities
with respect to sustainability. To begin with, more thought given to passive solar
design would likely have cut down on even more energy consumption. It is great
that the building is designed with clear glass but the problem is what happens
to the heat energy once it is in the building. The steel 1

framing and clear glazing the building is constructed of are

both materials that transmit heat instead of store it. Heat
passes through the glazed façade, through the hollow
atrium, and out the other side of the building without being
absorbed. In terms of heat gains, during winter months this
is not an ideal characteristic and could have been
prevented by the use of materials that absorb heat.
Additionally to comment on the use of conventional heating equipment, it seems
that a heating system that worked similar to the cooling system may have
conserved more energy and been more appropriate to the idea of designing a
more efficient tower. Additionally, the building has not taken into consideration
photovoltaics or windpower that also could have reduced energy consumption.
Both energy producing ideas if implemented would generate energy using natural
forces and carry on Foster’s idea to use the environment to sustain his building.
Wind turbines on the roof of the tower could have taken advantage of wind forces
that occur at higher elevations, while photovoltaics could have supplied the
building with an abundance of free power on sunny days. Furthermore, no where
on or within this tower has there been any use of low energy or recycled
materials, which could potentially reduce the burden that manufacturing steel and
commercial glazing have on the environment.

Also on another critical note the Commerzbank has 1

recently decorated the exterior of their building in light1.
The building looks beautiful as it glistens in yellow and
blue, however at the same time a large amount energy is
being wasted to achieve this effect. This seems to be a
contradiction for a building that was originally designed to
operate efficiently and minimalize wasted energy. From an environmental stand
point, it would seem more logical to reduce artificial light used during the day and
during the night encourage people only to use the lighting that is necessary to
work comfortably.

This building may not be not perfect in terms of sustainable design,

however it is a step forward from the design of conventional sky scrapers built in
the past. This building is significant because its ambition towards sustainable
design has a great deal of value to future architecture and some of its innovation
may be absorbed by today’s architects in general. The idea of ‘sky gardens’ that
filter the air and reduce carbon dioxins is a start to an idea that has potential to
better human life at a larger scale. Planting systems in small and medium
buildings could be implemented to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation
and reduce energy consumption. Interior gardens could also produce breathable
oxygen to occupants on a daily basis; as well they could create an interesting
place to gather. The idea of maximizing light passage into a building is another
valuable idea that Foster has developed. Natural light not only provides free
heating and lighting but it also improves the quality of life in a building. Studies
show that florescent light causes depressive behavior in people and by replacing
fluorescents with controlled day lighting a more pleasant living/working
environment is provided and energy is saved. Moreover, the organization of this
tower is significant because its planning embraces both the environment and
quality of life at once. This idea has the potential to encourage architects to plan
according to the environment and in doing so conserve energy and provide a
higher standard of living space. The technique of eliminating the solid core from
the center of the building and replacing it with a central atrium that ventilates the
entire building may be applied to more then just skyscrapers. A similar technique
could be used to ventilate apartments and smaller office buildings and in doing
so provide them with the same quality of ventilation Commerzbank receives. The
fact that this building cuts down on emissions by 30%8 is a start to something
great, but perhaps if some of its innovation was applied to a building at a smaller
scale. Assuming that efficiency is proportional to size it is quite logical to think
that in a smaller building efficiency could likely be increased by double or more.
Additionally if the systems were applied to all buildings globally then it would
likely mean that global energy consumption would be cut by nearly half.
However, it is highly optimistic to believe such an idea could become a reality; it
is important to have a goal like Norman Foster to improve the way people live by
helping the environment.

This buildings relative significance lies in its idea to create the worlds ‘first
ecological skyscraper’. Since it broke from the conventions employed by past
skyscrapers that did not consider environmental issues, the tower is successful.
Norman Foster has taken a step forward and for the first time an architect in
designing a building of this magnitude has taken responsibility for the
environment. Commerzbank should be looked on as a starting point to what can
be done in architecture environmentally. Conclusively, Knowledge about the
environment must be used to expand the limits of architectural discourse and
consequently the ideas of sustainable design may then be dissolved into the
practice of all architecture.
Bibliography

1. ArchitectureWeek: Illuminating Foster

http://www.architectureweek.com/2000/0913/design_1-1.html

2. Archpedia: Norman Foster http://www.archpedia.com/Architects/Foster.html

3. BBC News: Norman Foster: Building the future

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_742000/742087.stm

4. Dupont: Sir Norman Foster and Partners: Exploiting the ultimate flexibility in
laminated glass http://www.dupont.com/safetyglass/lgn/stories/1105.html

5. Foster and Associates: Commerzbank Headquarters

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/internetsite/html/simple.html

6. Foster Associates: Recent Works. New York: St. Martins Press, 1992. p. 31.

7. From here to Modernity: Norman Foster

http://www.open2.net/modernity/4_9.htm

8. Hypermart: Commerzbank Frankfurt Germany

http://a4d.hypermart.net/architecture/projects/combank/combank.shtm

9. Lehigh: Building of the Month - Commerzbank Tower

http://www.lehigh.edu/ctbuh/bom_com.html

10. Princeton Architectural Press: Commerzbank Frankfurt Prototype for an

Ecological Highrise http://www.papress.com/books/birkhauser/3764357401.html