Ideenwettbewerb Quatertower, Augsburg — A Textile Heritage Reimagined in the Sky

Studio Symbiosis presents the Quatertower — a striking mixed-use skyscraper conceived for a former textile district in Augsburg, Germany, now dynamically evolving into a vibrant new living and working quarter.
Standing tall as the gateway landmark of this emerging urban neighbourhood, the tower draws its design identity directly from the area's textile legacy — with worsted yarn as the central guiding concept. The rhythm of the facade, expressed through elegant white vertical ceramic elements that evolve from base to crown, beautifully echoes the linear structure of woven thread.
What defines the Quatertower:
🧵 Textile-Inspired Facade — White vertical ceramic elements rise from bottom to top in a dynamic interplay of rhythm and texture, celebrating Augsburg's rich textile heritage in a thoroughly contemporary form.
📐 Smart Two-Volume Design — Two deliberate recesses respond to the height of neighbouring buildings — the wider lower volume (up to 4th floor) houses a café and flexible office spaces, while the slender upper floors (up to 11th floor) are dedicated to apartments.
🌿 Green Terraces & Communal Spaces — The recesses create generous landscaped outdoor terraces, including a communal residents' terrace on the 8th floor with sweeping views across the city.
🏢 Flexible Workspaces — Offices are designed to be reconfigured in various sizes, with a double-height open shared office space anchored by a café that serves as an extended kitchen for both residents and the public.
🔇 Acoustic Comfort — Room-high box windows with acoustically effective glass elements on the north, west, and south facades shield residents from surrounding urban noise, while loggias and terraces open freely to the quieter east side.
☀️ Sustainability First — Passive energy measures, high use of daylight, low air conditioning requirements, and regenerative energy systems combine to deliver outstanding thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort.
📍 Augsburg, Germany — Former Textile District
🏗️ Status: Competition Entry
🏠 Program: Café | Flexible Offices | Apartments | Communal Terraces | Loggias
✏️ Architecture by Studio Symbiosis with Roland Höntzsch | Climate Engineering: Transsolar
Where industrial heritage and contemporary urban living weave together — floor by floor, thread by thread.

Transcript

1. STUDIO SYMBIOSIS · AUGSBURG, GERMANY QUATER TOWER A Mixed-Use High-Rise Rooted in Textile Heritage & Sustainable Design 11 Floors 990 SQM Built-Up 3 Functions studio-symbiosis.com · Ideenwettbewerb Quatertower, Augsburg studio-symbiosis.com/project/quatertower/
2. PROJECT OVERVIEW Ideenwettbewerb Quatertower ABOUT THE PROJECT Gateway to a New Urban Quarter The Quatertower is located in a former textile area of Augsburg that is dynamically transforming into a vibrant new living and working district. Standing tall above its surroundings, it serves as a recognizable gateway landmark for the entire area. Inspired by worsted yarn — the guiding idea of this design — the facade develops from bottom to top in a rhythmic play of white vertical ceramic elements that echo the linear structure of the textile heritage of Augsburg. s Augsburg, Germany View Full Project →
3. DESIGN CONCEPT From Textile Heritage to Vertical Architecture The linear structure of worsted yarn — reflected in the rhythm of the white vertical ceramic facade elements. Textile machinery — Augsburg's industrial heritage 01 Worsted Yarn Motif Vertical ceramic elements rise from base to crown, directly referencing the linear rhythm of worsted yarn — the textile legacy of Augsburg translated into modern architecture. 02 Two Recesses Two visible structural recesses respond to the height of neighbouring buildings. They also express the spatial programme — wider offices below, narrower apartments above. 03 Green Terraces The recesses create spacious green outdoor terraces. A communal terrace on the 8th floor offers residents a shared meeting place with panoramic views over the city. View Full Project →
4. FACADE & FEATURES Architecture of Comfort & Sustainability Facade detail — white vertical ceramic elements & loggias Acoustic Glass Facades Floor-to-ceiling box windows with acoustically effective glass elements on north, west and south sides — ensuring maximum quiet indoors. Integrated Loggias Loggias built into the facade provide year-round outdoor space for residents — soundproof, wind-protected and part of the architectural composition. Passive Energy Design High thermal comfort, maximised daylight, minimal air-conditioning through passive measures and regenerative energy use within the building. Parking Innovation A modern parking lift replaces a conventional ramp — saving space and delivering the required number of parking spaces efficiently. Flexible Office Floors Ground to 4th floor office spaces are designed for flexible subdivision into various sizes, with a café and shared lounge at ground level. View Full Project →
5. PROJECT GALLERY Renders — Augsburg Quatertower Street Level View · Augsburg Tower Top — Green Living Facade View Full Project →
6. PROJECT FACTS QUATER TOWER PROJECT Ideenwettbewerb Quatertower LOCATION Augsburg, Germany TYPE Mixed-Use High-Rise PROGRAM Café + Offices + Apartments FLOORS 11 Floors BUILT-UP AREA 990 SQM SITE AREA 1,111 SQM STATUS Competition Entry FACADE White Vertical Ceramic ENERGY Passive + Regenerative DESIGN TEAM Studio Symbiosis An award-winning multi-disciplinary Architecture and Design studio operating across Delhi NCR, London, and Stuttgart — powered by 90+ architects with a shared commitment to performance-driven, sustainable design. DESIGN LEADS Amit Gupta Founding Partner, MArch AA London Britta Knobel Gupta Founding Partner Faruk Murat Partner Germany, Dipl.-Ing. COLLABORATORS Roland Höntzsch (Architect) · Transsolar (Climate Engineering) · Brandschutz Dr. Portz (Fire & Safety) STUDIO AWARDS s Red Dot Award 2023 s German Design Award 2024 s Asia Pacific Property Award 2024 s Forbes India Top 30 Architects 2021 View Full Project →
7. studio-symbiosis.com/project/quatertower/ STUDIO SYMBIOSIS · AUGSBURG, GERMANY WHERE HERITAGE MEETS TOMORROW Ideenwettbewerb Quatertower · A Studio Symbiosis Project INNOVATE SUSTAIN INSPIRE