Fürstenwall Düsseldorf, DE

Kreisler – Office Building, Frankfurt, Germany
Project overview

The Kreisler office building, developed by Quest Investment Partners and investment manager Competo Capital, adds approximately 25 000 m² of high‑quality office space to Frankfurt’s business district. The 45 m tall building features a double‑skin façade with a distinctive vertical articulation. Environmental performance and occupant comfort were primary drivers in the design, with the client seeking durable and low‑maintenance solutions.

Design challenge

Office tenants expect large windows and generous daylight; however, Frankfurt’s climate includes sunny summers and cold winters. A traditional external shading system would be exposed to weather and degrade over time. A more robust solution was needed to control glare and heat while maintaining clear views. Additionally, the building’s tight urban site required pre‑fabricated façade elements to accelerate construction and minimize disruption.

RetroSolar strategy

The building’s double‑skin façade includes RETROLux 50 mm blinds with a protective lacquer suitable for exterior use
retrosolar.us
. The blinds are pre‑installed within prefabricated façade modules, streamlining assembly on site. With a reflectivity of 96 %, the louvers efficiently send solar radiation back towards the sky, reducing heat build‑up in the cavity. The mirror surface also ensures that sunlight does not scatter towards the street, helping preserve the local micro‑climate. Because the blinds are integrated within the double skin, they remain protected from wind and weather.

Building physics and performance

The double‑skin façade with RetroSolar blinds achieves a low solar heat‑gain coefficient while retaining a high level of visual transparency. The high reflectivity reduces the cavity temperature, decreasing the need for active ventilation of the double skin. As a result, the building can rely on natural buoyancy to remove heat from the cavity, saving energy. The blinds’ reflective surfaces also increase interior daylight by directing diffuse light onto ceilings and walls. Prefabrication ensures consistent installation quality and reduces the risk of thermal bridges.

Architectural outcome and significance

The Kreisler building presents a crisp, modern façade with minimal visible shading devices. The integration of RetroSolar technology into prefabricated units demonstrates a practical approach to delivering high performance and speed of construction simultaneously. The building supports Frankfurt’s ambitions for sustainable, climate‑resilient urban development and illustrates how reflective shading can be combined with contemporary curtain wall construction.