Sympatec's Head Office Pulverhaus

Sympatec head office "Pulverhaus" is located at
Am Pulverhaus 1, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

Premises

Once upon a time, a King in Hannover had mining operations in the Harz mountains. Out of his many daughters, two became immortal: the most profitable mines of the Oberharz carry their names: Dorothea and Caroline.

Never before had he seen two such dirty girls, the most famous and renowned visitor to this site (J.W. Goethe) pointed out already in his lifetime.

About three hundred years later, just at the turn of the Millenium, the territory at the Oberer Feldgraben it self officially had become a contaminated plot of land according to the actually valid legislation.

Clean-up operation

Before on this historic mining site the construction of the new company building could begin, the remaings of the past pollution had to be cleaned-up.

Following the results of intensive soil analyses it was agreed that a large volume sealing would have best chances to being accepted as decontamination measure. For the realisation of this goal, two mighty heaps were piled up, and sealing of the necessary fire pond, the buildings, the parking site and the roads was secured

Pulverhaus (Powder House)

Due to the conception of the building, both company sections from Clausthal and Goslar, which had developed their specific profiles over the past 20 years could be united under one roof.

The technical department coming from the Business Park at Goslar now occupies 3 floors at the north eastern side together with a single storey production hall situated on the ground floor adjacent to the main building. The sales department originating from the Technology Centre at Clausthal resides in the two storey location at the south western part of the building.

Both sections are connected with the centrally located Hall of Particles. This central part of the building follows the historic orientation of the terrain and picks up the lines of vision of the forrest to the east.

To the west Pulverhaus is linked to the remaining buildings of the mining era. An underground connection opens to the Caroline weather shaft and at its exit leads via the authentic alley of trees to the historic Pulverhaus.

Pulverturm (Powder Tower)

The ensemble of buildings is dominated by the Pulverturm. At its upper platform a falling tube origins and 28 m deeper in the ground floor the terminal settling velocity of 10 mm particles can be determined with the use of laser detectors. The tower is crowned with a cupola of a planetarium allowing to step out for inspection purpose.

Wisdom of the times before Socrates

The interior arrangement of the departments allocated inside the building of the innovative high-technology company is in accordance with the seven dictums, which have been engraved into the wall of the temple in Delphi at the oracle of Appollon. Reference to Kleobulus is made over the entrance door: "Everything with measure!" In the passages to the departments, quotations of the five famous philosophers of the pre-socratic times are attached. Chilon of Sparta reminds the users of the building at the exit: "Recognise yourself!", thus expecting that Pulverhaus does provide new insight at least to the disperse aspects of live.

Outlook

At this location

old		new
valley		mountain
university		industry
cognition		profit
tradition		innovation
nature		technology

meet.

This sounds like antagonism. But they can be combined at this location. However not without tension, but this is what adds zest to the situation. Tension is an important source of energy.