BG Fiege, Münster

Office Building Fiege, Münster

At the Stadthafen in Münster, the striking “X-Dock” building has been developed for the internationally operating logistics company FIEGE. The six-storey building complex brings together modern workspaces, meeting areas and various communication zones under one roof across more than 10,000 m². Several business units from different locations were consolidated here with the aim of strengthening synergies and creating a flexible, future-oriented working environment for around 300 employees.

Expanded metal ceiling as a defining design element

The expanded metal ceiling plays a central role in the interior design concept. The planning concept developed by the architectural office tnpx GmbH envisaged open, adaptable spatial structures capable of meeting a wide range of requirements.

“For us, it was important to separate the central zones from the workspaces along the façade,” explains interior architect and managing director of tnpx GmbH, Toni Piskac. “With the black Fural expanded metal ceiling, this zone gains an appearance that reflects the harbour environment while also contributing to sound reduction in this highly frequented area.”

The result is a working environment with a clear architectural identity – characterised by transparency, communication and a high quality of stay. The expanded metal hang-in system KLH Long Field by Fural was used (STM long field cassettes with DZ hang-in profile, mesh 22 × 12 × 2 × 1.5 mm, colour Parzifal RAL 9004, hydro stove-enamel coating) over a total area of 1,800 m². The ceiling solution was implemented across several floors in open-plan office areas as well as adjoining corridors, combining aesthetic ambition with functional efficiency.

The cassettes are hung into a DZ hang-in profile, creating a distinctive and precise joint pattern. In addition to its clear linear design, the expanded metal ceiling impresses with its high transparency, optimal integration of building services installations and its robust, durable construction – ideal conditions for highly frequented office and communication areas.

Technical sophistication and high precision

“A particular architectural challenge was that the ceiling cassettes were not aligned parallel to the building structure, but diagonally to the room geometry,” explains Fural’s technical consultant Robert Markowski. As a result, the standard hang-in installation on the short side of the cassette had to be modified so that the cassettes could be suspended from the long side. This adjustment required precise coordination between the substructure and the suspension system and highlights the high flexibility of the selected system.

In addition, project-specific access panels were integrated into the expanded metal ceiling to allow maintenance and service work to be carried out easily without affecting the homogeneous appearance of the ceiling.

Challenge: large number of custom-fit panels

The implementation proved particularly demanding due to the large number of custom-fit panels. The X-shaped building structure and the diagonally running ceiling axes created a high demand for individually cut elements. Each panel had to be manufactured and installed with precision to maintain the continuous joint pattern and architectural consistency.

This high level of detail posed particular challenges for both planning and installation and was successfully realised on schedule and with a high level of execution quality thanks to the close and collaborative partnership with the executing company Heinz Hiller GmbH.

The result is a technically sophisticated and visually distinctive expanded metal ceiling that not only gives the “X-Dock” a unique identity but also combines functionality, flexibility and precision at the highest level.

Project Participants

Fural (internal): Robert Markowski, Philipp Wipplinger
Client: Heinz Hiller GmbH
Architect: tnpx GmbH

Photo: © Eduardo Perez