The new building for the Integrated Regional Control Center South is located in the midst of a developing business park. Since July 2025, more than 350 fire brigades, 76 ground-based emergency vehicles, and the rescue helicopter Christoph 12 have been dispatched from here. The building meets demanding requirements for a highly complex work environment, advanced technology, and ergonomic design.
Generous glazing inside creates visual connections between the different operational areas. Wooden slats on the interior walls absorb sound and, together with the stone exterior, establish a contrasting material palette. Wood extends throughout the building, giving informal meeting areas a warm, almost furniture-like atmosphere. The L-shaped layout reflects the functional organization: one wing for tactical and operational spaces such as emergency call intake and situation rooms, the other for administration.
Between them lies a communication zone — a buffer with spaces for interaction and exchange among staff. The entrance opens into a planted courtyard, the “Cherry Grove,” framed by the two wings. With cherry trees and seating, it provides a sheltered outdoor retreat for employees.
The building’s restrained form, relief-like roofscape, and light stone façade create a monolithic impression — recalling a glacial erratic resting in the landscape. Like such a boulder, it feels at once natural and foreign. Set at an angle within the rigid industrial grid, it stands apart from its surroundings, yet it is the only building that truly responds to the site. This deliberate orientation and distinctive form underline the special role of the control center — a singular object that is both shaped by and set against its context.
Renderings: moka-studio GbR
