059_DNA of learning

At the center of the competition site, the new education center will create a new focal point at the northern end of Europaallee. The new building is arranged in such a way that the existing development along the Europaallee is complemented by the urban planning. In addition, the park strip of the Willy Brandt Park will be expanded by the new building as a connecting and redefining element to Adenauerplatz. The new building of the education center is spread over 6 floors, all of which are connected by a central atrium, the Marketplace. On the ground floor next to the café, with direct external connection to the newly defined town square, are also located the event area and the foyer. The individual rooms are illuminated both by the façade and the marketplace, that provide a high quality of stay. The marketplace, as a flexible zone, connects the various clusters on the individual levels via stairs and bridges, and offers space for different functional areas. It invites one to interact, to use and to try out the core of the new education center. Along the facade of the new education center, the public parking space will be extended through a spiral system of ramps and balconies. This double helix, the "Parkhelix", brings visitors up to the public roof terrace, which serves as a learning garden for "urban farming" and as an observation deck over the area. Generously designed entrances take visitors from different parts of the Helix directly to the market square. The marketplace serves as an outward contact: it picks up visitors and, in conjunction with the "Parkhelix", becomes the DNA of learning.

Construction and Materials:

The new building should be constructed on the basis of the budget specifications from the ecologically and economically most sensible building materials. Therefore, a mixed construction is proposed. The construction should be strenghten with the staircase as a reinforced concrete core and carried out with a support system and KLH ceilings ecologically and economically favorable. The non-load-bearing façade should consist of wooden stud wall elements with a ventilated brick shell. The façade design is related to the historical past of the material in the region. The materials in the interior are selected as robust and economical materials. For ecological reasons, a large glass façade has been omitted, but the interior spaces are bright and friendly through selected window areas.

Status: Competition

Client: Public

Year: 2017

Size: 4050m² GFA

Ana Domenti, Marc Dufour-Feronce, Raimon Espasa, Lou Pelosoff, Andreas Reeg