Platform about design and technology in the kitchen, home, and bathroom industry
Extraordinary experiences in cooking: the spectacular new building of BORA, manufacturer of kitchen appliances, in Herford, East Westphalia provides the perfect stage for this. In a light, seemingly floating building of steel and glass, visitors are welcomed into an interior consisting of high-quality materials. Oak and natural stone provide warm accents in the BORA Flagship Store with additional showroom space and in the restaurant. Mirror and concrete surfaces form a cool contrast to these and underline the character of the interesting architecture.
The building's technically highly complex construction is based on a supporting structure of ten-meter-high steel frames in the shape of a diamond with rounded corners, rising about three meters above the ground. The structure of almost 100 meters long-floating on thin steel supports as if it were a grand piano-has a facade construction of steel and glass elements that give the building its rhythmic appearance. The partial transparency reflects the desire to connect the building to its surroundings and create a dialogue between passersby and people admiring the building.
LORENZATELIERS' design principle of creating readable architecture corresponds exactly to BORA's philosophy. In the interior, for example, the huge steel beams were deliberately left visible. The modern brand and product experience makes the BORA Experience accessible in various ways to the company's trade partners and interested parties from the building, living and furnishing sectors: The magnificent building envelope spans the showrooms of well-known German kitchen manufacturers, the BORA Flagship Store and on the second floor - attractively integrated into the open mezzanine - the "Mirror" restaurant with currently Germany's largest convertible roof. A unique highlight that transforms the interior into an outdoor space flooded with light: two elements of 63 square meters each create a special sense of space directly above the lounge and restaurant in fine weather. Despite this, the sound of the thousands of cars whizzing by is almost inaudible. The huge Flagship Store is equipped with an impressive show kitchen and a corresponding large dining area, so that the entire product world can be experienced during Live Cooking events. Poet Audio's sound specialists designed an audio concept suitable for open spaces for this and the other rooms. By the way, Poet Audio has its own space in the building that they use to present their masterpieces.
On the outside, the steel structure of the sloping structure is as visible as the main trusses, ventilation tubes, perforated sheets and cooling plates on the inside. Natural materials and clear, clean shapes were also chosen for the furniture and fixtures. As in the other BORA locations, the BORA architectural team chose a limited number of materials and surfaces suitable for the respective use. The cool, high-tech look of this dynamic architecture contrasts with the natural materials such as wood, stone and leather. They very deliberately create a personal, almost homely atmosphere.
The interior design intentionally keeps a distance from the architectural envelope. For example, the backs of the oak benches along the sloping window facade are designed to be light and translucent, allowing one to look outside. And yet it fits the building perfectly. A special highlight is the construction of these benches that, when the backrests are folded down, provide a second seating level for the public and thus for a larger number of guests when show cooking in the Flagship Store. The link between inside and outside runs like a thread through the concept. For example, the mineral concrete gray flooring in the interior spaces brings the aesthetics of the parking lot under the building inside and provides a neutral framework for the more emotional presentation of all BORA products. The rough floor builds on the motif of the exterior shell stretched around the diamond-shaped steel beams.
BORA founder and director Willi Bruckbauer was trained as a carpenter and as such has a good eye for carefully selected materials in interior design. Wood is the material with which his success story began; oak is used in all of BORA's locations. The durable wood creates a warm effect in stark contrast to the mirrored surfaces with which the building's technical core is enveloped, preserving the interior's spaciousness and openness. For product presentations, custom-made oak boxes are integrated into the mirrored surfaces at different heights.
And again and again, allusions to the floating nature of architecture can be found in the interior design: On the upper floor, for example, it is wine bottles that seem to float seemingly weightlessly in vertical stainless steel holders between the floor and ceiling of the lounge and restaurant. The free-standing kitchen islands in the space present BORA cooktop extractors in stainless steel and travertine countertops with attractive, roughened surfaces and lateral break lines. The fronts of the islands are partially covered with LED projection surfaces that can be fitted with digital content. Natural materials and cutting-edge technology fit together perfectly, according to Willi Bruckbauer: "Thanks to the LED surfaces on the side of the kitchen unit, we create the connection between aesthetics and modern technology that is so characteristic of BORA." Media technology also supports the product presentation in the new Flagship Store: using a beamer and a screen integrated into the show kitchen, a small cinema can be set up for about 20 guests during cooking events.
The BORA Herford team and partners look forward to presenting the highlights of this new location to numerous business visitors and end customers starting in mid-September. As at the other BORA locations, electric cars can be charged during the visit. The energy concept is tailored to the special use of the building and, depending on the use, will be an "NZEB - Nearly Zero-Energy Building.
Opening hours BORA Flagship Store and partner presentations: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Opening hours Mirror restaurant at www.herford-mirror.de
