Sustainable Office Design in Historic Gardens: Hannibal Advertising by ROHM

Located on the edge of Roeselare’s port in Belgium, the Hannibal Advertising Offices is a brilliant example of how modern architecture can integrate with nature and history. Designed by ROHM, this 850 m² office building combines innovative techniques, compact planning, and a preserved historic garden to deliver a space that is both functional and environmentally conscious.

A Historic Garden Restored

The site of the Hannibal Advertising Offices is marked by a forgotten summer garden, a rare find in its industrial surroundings. The architects retained the garden's wild charm, planting additional trees and introducing thoughtful landscaping. Activities such as petanque, live music, hammock lounging, and outdoor conferencing highlight the multipurpose nature of the garden.

This preservation enhances biodiversity and creates a serene buffer between the building and its urban context.

A Compact and Balanced Design

To maintain harmony with the surrounding landscape, the building occupies a compact footprint. The program is stacked across three floors, ensuring that the structure integrates seamlessly with the garden and retains the site's iconic walled boundary.

Key features of the design include:

• Stacked Layout: Ensuring optimal space utilization for offices and parking without encroaching on green areas.
• Compact Volume: Balancing modern architecture with natural surroundings.

Functional Spaces for Creativity and Collaboration

The building prioritizes functionality, particularly on the ground floor, which houses shared spaces like the lunchroom, studio, and meeting rooms. Designed as the creative hub, this floor doubles as a bar for informal gatherings and customer meetings.

The upper floors accommodate:

• Office spaces for 32 employees.
• Meeting rooms.
• Quiet zones for focused work.

A vertical void connects the two upper floors, creating visual and spatial continuity while offering panoramic views of the city skyline.

Integration of Sustainability

The Hannibal Advertising Offices embodies sustainable office design, incorporating strategies to reduce its environmental impact:

• Shading: The compact building enjoys the natural shade provided by surrounding trees, reducing energy consumption.
• Minimized Heat Load: Blind end facades limit heat gain.
• Concrete Core Activation: An innovative cooling technique that uses ventilated, slightly dried air to climatize the building efficiently.

These methods not only enhance energy efficiency but also promote a comfortable indoor environment.

Architectural Techniques and Structural Details

Designed by lead architects Sander Vrhanneman and Dirk Liekens, with BM Engineering handling structural and HVAC aspects, the Hannibal Advertising Offices stands as a beacon of technical prowess. Its ventilation and climate control systems demonstrate how architecture can adapt to environmental challenges while prioritizing user comfort.

The Hannibal Advertising Offices by ROHM exemplifies the future of sustainable office design, merging historic preservation with modern functionality. By creating a space that fosters collaboration, supports creativity, and respects its natural and historical context, it sets a new standard for architecture.

For businesses and architects seeking inspiration, this project demonstrates how sustainability, history, and innovation can coalesce to produce timeless designs.

All photographs are work of Johnny Umans