Mediamesh on Bayer building
Bayer Media Facade – The world’s largest media facade.
GKD and ag4’s latest and one of its most spectacular projects is the realization of the world’s largest media facade for Bayer AG. For the past 40 years the former headquarters tower of the Bayer AG has been a symbol for the company’s identity and is a landmark of the city of Leverkusen and the region. As the building has been standing completely empty for quite some time, there had been plans to tear it down. But why destroy something that for such a long time had been characteristic for a part of Bayer’s identity? Why not present it in a new light?
Precisely this impulse was the decisive factor for Bayer to join forces with ag4 media facade GmbH and develop an innovative idea: Trans-form the high tower into a media sculpture! In the true sense of the word, 5.6 millions LEDs will illuminate the facade of the once tallest high rise building in Germany this coming autumn. On a total surface of 17,500 m2, the building, which has been completely gutted, will be wrapped in two different kinds of steel mesh with integrated LED profiles. The patented systems Mediamesh® and Illumesh®, both joint developments of ag4 with GKD, will transform the facade of the building into an atmospheric and medial object.
Mediamesh® has received several awards in recent years for its inno-vative and sustainable approach, including not only the “IF Product Design Award” and the “DETAIL Prize” but also the highest award in the area of design, namely the German Design Award. The Mediamesh® and Illumesh® systems are based on an optically transparent carrier system and have become established on the market for their technical and ecological qualities.
The transparency of the stainless steel mesh allows for a clear and unrestricted view of the building itself: Inside the building, a “green core” made of Makrolon® will be created that will be illuminated using a newly designed architecture light. All the design elements will be aligned with a multilayer visual installation displayed on the media skin consisting of logos, graphic elements, images, text, and videos. The theme-based visual worlds will be conceived and designed by Bayer’s communications department in cooperation with ag4. With the aid of IMMP, the patented software control system developed by ag4, all the components – installation, green core, and architecture light – will be woven together into a completely unique and innovative form of architectural presentation to create a sculptural, three-dimensional structure. During the entire creation and realization process, ag4 will be heading the project as the prime contractor.
Using a medium of communication that is unique in the world, Bayer is setting new standards on a local and global context both in the region and well far beyond it.
