‘Solid and functional, but not ostentatious; contemporary, but not fashionable; reliable, but not boring’ - a number of promising attributes were used at the inauguration of a new administrative building for the new State Medical Association. In the previous two years, the former headquarters of the building materials dealer Raab-Karcher served as the setting for the architectural adaptation of the transformation of ‘the ugly duckling into a swan’. With a happy ending, of course, as the neighbourhood on Hanauer Landstrasse now serves as an urban development model for the successful transformation of a commercial wasteland into a modern, urban city quarter.

The design concept of the renowned Frankfurt architectural firm Meixner Schlüter Wendt aimed to harmoniously integrate the free-standing, seven-storey office building with a usable area of 5,350 m² into its surroundings - while at the same time giving the building visual independence. 

As with the neighbouring development in Frankfurt's trendy Ostend district, clinker brick plays the main role on the façade of the new State Medical Chamber - with the planners skilfully transforming the theme to give the administrative building an independent identity: ‘In contrast to red clinker brick, which is quickly associated with industrial buildings or loft living in a harbour context, the dark clinker brick from the manufacturer Ströher (‘Timeless’ series, onyx dust colour scheme) deliberately cites prestigious brick architecture,’ says Florian Schlüter from Meixner Schlüter Wendt, explaining the choice of material. The architects achieved the restrained, elegant appearance of the façade through the attractive contrast effect resulting from the interplay of the modern-looking, almost black clinker brick slips, various expressive window formats and the fine plaster surfaces.