The headquarters of Continental AG,
design: HENN
In the heart of Lower Saxony, at one of the main entrances to Hanover, a building has been erected that not only redefines the way we think about corporate headquarters, but also symbolizes the transformation of one of the giants of German industry. We are talking about the new Continental headquarters of Continental AG, designed by Berlin-based architectural firm HENN. This impressive complex isn't just office space - it's an expansive campus that integrates functions previously scattered around the city and creates an environment for work based on knowledge exchange, cooperation and openness.
Continental AG headquarters in Hanover - bird's eye view
photo by Simon Menges © HENN
architecture in motion
- a symbolic form of innovation and heritage
With its dynamic architecture and well-thought-out spatial structure, the project reflects the company's evolution from a tire manufacturer to a leader in modern technology in the automotive sector. It's no coincidence that its form resembles a race track - it's a nod to Continental's automotive heritage, but also a metaphor for constant movement, innovation and progression. The articulation of this space is the result of a dialogue between functionality and symbolism - between the hard requirements of the corporate agenda and soft values such as social inclusion, employee well-being and environmental responsibility.
Continental AG headquarters in Hanover - site plan
© HENN
campus instead of tower
The basic idea behind the new design was to combine the company's previously dispersed locations into a single, integrated campus. Architects from the HENN studio rejected the typical model of vertical dominance for corporate headquarters - a tower with a logo on the roof - in favor of a horizontal, expansive structure that better suits the idea of sharing space and communication between departments. Instead of a single monolithic block, the result was a complex composed of several freestanding buildings, connected by a well-thought-out communication infrastructure.
Continental AG headquarters in Hanover - the complex is composed of several free-standing buildings, connected by a well-thought-out communication infrastructure
Photo: Simon Menges © HENN
The project site encompasses two plots of land, separated by an eight-lane road - an impassable physical barrier that the project set out to neutralize. The answer became a more than 70-meter bridge connecting the two parts of the campus - a structure that not only enables communication, but becomes the central identity of the entire site. Its function is not limited to being a connector - it is here that the key element of the project was located: the so-called Loop.
Continental AG's headquarters in Hanover encompasses two plots of land connected to each other by a 70-meter bridge
Photo: Simon Menges © HENN
Loop - the bloodstream of the organization
The notion of the Loop is central to the conceptual and functional element of the entire campus. Running through the second floor of the complex, the architectural strip is more than a corridor - it is an integrated system of common spaces that binds the dispersed building blocks into a single organism. It offers collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, cafes, recreational spaces, a health center, as well as areas for individual work. All of these functions have been located in a space that fosters casual meeting, the exchange of ideas and daily interaction among employees. The Loop thus acts as a bloodstream - it is where organizational energy flows. Significantly, its continuity is not merely ideological - architecturally, it is an uninterrupted path, also visible on the outside of the buildings thanks to the use of colored glass panels, which have been incorporated into the facades and which clearly mark the route of the Loop from all sides.
Continental AG headquarters in Hanover - longitudinal cross section
© HENN
space as strategy
The project is part of a growing trend of using architecture as a tool for strategic corporate management. Here, space is not just a backdrop for employee activity, but an active factor influencing the way we work and the organizational culture. That's why so much importance is attached to designing spaces that support different work styles: from focused individual work, to team collaboration, to informal meetings. A significant role is also played by the so-called touchdowns - places where the Loop connects to the atriums in the southern and northern parts of the complex. This is where the entrances to the buildings, reception areas, the canteen and the company's TV studio are located. The interiors are characterized by visual coherence with the external architecture, but above all by functionality and flexibility - they are spaces that can change according to the needs of the users.
Continental AG headquarters in Hanover - the project is part of the growing trend of using architecture as a tool for strategic corporate management
photo by Simon Menges © HENN
facades and landscape
The external appearance of the buildings has been subordinated to the idea of transparency and lightness. The glass facades, framed in dark gray profiles, allow for maximum daylight and visual openness to the surroundings. However, the architects did not stop at architecture alone - great importance was attached to the landscape context. The campus was inscribed into the existing green layout, allowing trees and vegetation to penetrate the site. Intimate green courtyards have been located between the buildings, offering places to relax and work outdoors. These semi-public spaces support employees' daily rituals and allow for a moment of tranquility.
Continental AG headquarters in Hannover - interior of the building
photo by Simon Menges © HENN
new corporate headquarters model
Continental's new headquarters in Hannover exemplifies a thoughtful approach to corporate architecture design. Instead of a building as a symbol of dominance, a complex organism - a campus - has been created for communication, collaboration and integration. Form, materials, functional layout and landscape work together to create an environment conducive to innovation. The HENN project for Continental AG is also an answer to the question of how architecture can support the company's transformation - both technological and cultural. The open, horizontal structure, the presence of greenery, the flexibility of the space, and the thoughtful social infrastructure show that a 21st century work space doesn't just have to be efficient - it should also inspire, connect and support growth.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of HENN studio.
