The Kesselhaus once served as the energy centre of the Cham paper mill. Boilers and turbines powered production, while its distinctive chimneys made its function visible far beyond the site. Today, the former Papieri is being transformed into a new mixed-use residential and working district. At its centre, the listed Kesselhaus takes on a new role: with a restaurant, office spaces and fitness facilities, it becomes a public meeting place within the emerging neighbourhood.
The signage evolves from the building’s industrial DNA. Construction, rhythm, materiality and the recurring presence of cylindrical elements — from the former paper rolls to the chimneys — are translated into a new visual system. Circular rods made of steel and light form letters, numbers and symbols. Rather than merely referencing the architecture, the design continues its language with consistency.
On the exterior, the lettering is integrated directly into the corrugated structure of the metal façade. LED rods follow its rhythm and form the name of the building. During the day, the lettering becomes part of the façade; after dark, the Kesselhaus turns into a highly visible beacon — almost like a lighthouse for the new neighbourhood.
The same principle continues inside. Signs constructed from circular rods respond to the exposed concrete, steel and raw material character of the existing building. In this way, the signage becomes a natural part of the Kesselhaus — precisely integrated, clear in its function and closely connected to the character of the architecture.
