'Max Tower' office building, Frankfurt

The 'Max Tower' consists of three parts: a ring-shaped foot, a butterfly-like trunk/torso and a head with two towers that are elliptical in form. The design stemmed from climatological considerations and makes optimum use of the wind. The ellipses and the butterfly act as funnels in which the air circulates naturally and is utilized by the air-conditioning system. The massive atrium in the circular plinth acts like a chimney: the warm air rises and ensures that fresh air is drawn in. The atrium also functions as a public area and can be accessed directly from the surrounding streets.