i8 | C.F. Møller Architects

i8 is a contemporary hybrid timber office building located in Werksviertel, one of Munich’s most dynamic urban transformation districts. Designed by C.F. Møller Architects for R&S Immobilienmanagement GmbH, the project demonstrates how material responsibility, architectural clarity and urban integration can converge in a new generation of workplace architecture.

Situated in Munich’s former industrial quarter — now developed into a dense mixed-use neighbourhood of housing, culture and business — i8 responds to its context with a robust yet refined architectural expression. The building’s rhythmic façade and carefully proportioned volume reflect the scale and character of Werksviertel, while its material strategy signals a forward-looking commitment to low-carbon construction.

At the heart of the project is a hybrid timber structural system that combines load-bearing timber elements with concrete cores. This approach significantly reduces embodied carbon compared with conventional office buildings while maintaining structural performance and long-term durability. Exposed timber surfaces within the building create a warm, tactile work environment, reinforcing the connection between materiality, well-being and environmental responsibility.

The building is wrapped in a façade of recycled anodised aluminium in a muted green tone. The material subtly references Werksviertel’s industrial character while establishing a refined, contemporary identity. The muted green shade complements the surrounding urban greenery and enhances the warmth of the exposed timber interiors, creating a dialogue between exterior robustness and interior tactility.

The office floors are organised within a modular planning grid, enabling open, adaptable layouts. Designed for change, i8 allows future reconfiguration without major structural intervention — extending the building’s lifespan and supporting evolving work patterns. Daylight-optimised floorplates, a high-performance building envelope and durable, low-maintenance materials further strengthen the project’s sustainability credentials.

At street level, an active ground floor contributes to Werksviertel’s urban life, anchoring the building within the district’s mixed-use fabric and reinforcing its civic presence.

i8 sets a new benchmark for hybrid timber office architecture in Munich. It demonstrates how architecture can meaningfully reduce environmental impact while delivering spatial quality, flexibility and a strong urban identity.

Key Architectural Features
·       Hybrid timber structure with concrete cores

·       Reduced embodied CO₂ through extensive use of timber

·       Visible structural timber creating a warm interior atmosphere

·       Façade in recycled anodized aluminium in muted green tone

·       Industrial rhythm and vertical articulation referencing Werksviertel

·       High-performance glazing with integrated solar control

·       Flexible, modular office floorplates

·       Designed for long-term adaptability and tenant variation

·       Daylight-optimised layouts

·       Active ground floor supporting urban integration

Client: R&S Realty III GmbH & Co.KG

City: Munich, Germany

Size: 20.000 m²

Year: 2020-2025

Clients consultant: Schwab Engineers

Architect: C.F. Møller Architects

Collaborators: RKW Architektur+, Merz Kley Partner, BWP Ingenieure GmbH, Drees & Sommer

Sustainability: From the outset, the draft provides for sustainability as an integrated part of the design process. The principles of the DGNB have been and will continue to be used as a basis for design work with a holistic focus on environmental, social and economic sustainability. In a working environment daylight is an indispensable comfort. Besides energy savings it has a positive effect on human wellbeing. Visual comfort is attained by maximum use of daylight through optimisat