Büro Voigt

Conceived as a permanent alternative to temporary container structures, Polizeikiosk by Büro Voigt introduces a compact, modular building type for the public presence of the police. Three prefabricated wooden units serve as work and break rooms, positioned in a highly visible urban setting at the U.S. Consulate in Leipzig.


The project consists of three movable modules in sizes S, M, and L, each designed for transport by truck and rapid on-site installation. Manufactured entirely off-site in a carpentry workshop, the units were installed within 48 hours, including the removal of the former container structures. None of the modules are permanently anchored to the ground; instead, the existing road surface functions as their foundation, allowing the buildings to be dismantled, relocated, or replaced as needed. Notably, the construction avoids the use of concrete altogether.


A dark aluminum envelope and a generously overhanging roof wrap around a timber load-bearing structure and interior lining. Through a careful selection of materials and proportion, the modules transcend their purely functional role. Large windows and refined detailing lend the buildings an unexpected civic presence, blurring the line between infrastructure, kiosk, and public architecture.


Sustainability plays a central role in the project. The construction relies primarily on recyclable materials such as wood and metal, while the use of plastics has been reduced to a minimum. Timber defines the structure, insulation, and interior finishes. Solid spruce and pine are used throughout, with veneers deliberately avoided to emphasize material honesty and durability.


Color operates as both identity and abstraction. A deep steel-blue tone, subtly referencing the police, unifies the three modules. Applied to the finely folded metal cladding, the color comes alive through shifting light and shadow. The delicate sheet-metal folds produce a textile-like surface—evoking tailored clothing, uniforms, or pleated fabric—imbuing the compact buildings with a surprising sense of elegance and tactility.


Polizeikiosk demonstrates how infrastructural architecture can move beyond provisional solutions. Through modularity, material intelligence, and careful expression, Büro Voigt proposes a small-scale civic building that is both pragmatic and dignified.