The groundbreaking ceremony for the chemical institutes and the new technical centre has taken place on the natural sciences campus of the Goethe University. Numerous guests from politics and science celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony in imperial weather. The earthworks on the site, which is located on the southern edge of the slope, have been underway since October 2022. In the first construction phase, the new practical training building with laboratory space above is being built. The technical centre is located underground and serves to supply the entire campus. “The new chemistry building is a long-planned important milestone for the future viability of research, teaching and knowledge transfer at our natural sciences campus. Modern infrastructures are the basic prerequisite for excellent basic research as the basis for innovations at the location, for worldwide networking to strengthen the internationality of the region and for modern teaching to train future specialists,” said University President Professor Dr. Enrico Schleiff, explaining the new building.

From left to right: Thomas Platte, Director of the LBIH, Dr Albrecht Fester, Chancellor of Goethe University, architect Eckhard Gerber, Minister of Science Angela Dorn, Prof. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University, Minister of Finance Michael Boddenberg.

Photo: Gerber Architekten

Our design for the three-storey extension building of the Kempen Comprehensive School was conceived as a modular system in timber hybrid construction. Our competition entry was recognised for this. The façade, which opens on both sides, creates a flowing structure from the inside to the outside. The façade follows the continuous axial grid of 8.90m, so that the rooms can be flexibly inserted into the basic structure. The all-round rescue balconies allow for a largely sun-protected outer shell. The jury particularly emphasised the spacious foyer, which gives the building equal and attractive entrance situations from the west and east.

Photo: Gerber Architekten

In the non-open interdisciplinary realization competition for the new construction of the administrative headquarters of the Northeast Branch – Die Autobahn GmbH of the German Federal Government – the design by Gerber Architekten won first prize. The concept is based on a three-story ring-shaped basic structure in timber hybrid construction. The location in the middle of a pine forest is used for a natural interlocking of nature and architecture. Gently widened circulation areas with views to the outside complement the spatial concept with offices, conference area and flexibly designed foyer. “In terms of urban planning, architecture, function and sustainability, the very homogeneous work is highly convincing thanks to its holistic and bold approach,” was the jury’s verdict on the design. The new building sits like a natural element in the Mark Brandenburg landscape, which continues within the circular building, and adapts to its particular surroundings in its choice of materials.

Photo: Gerber Architekten

For the holidays and the “Chinese New Year of the Rabbit” Gerber Architekten wish you and your families happiness, prosperity and longevity. We thank you for the successful collaboration last year and look forward to the coming year in continuing the work with you on ongoing projects as well as new ones. May all your wishes come true!

Photo: Gerber Architekten

In the realization competition for the Creative Forum in the Cleantech Innovation Park in Hallstadt, the design by Gerber Architekten has been awarded recognition. As the entrance building to the new campus, the Creative Forum is intended to representatively radiate the interface between forward-looking research, mobility, renewable energies, AI and digitalization to the public. The basic architectural concept underlines this creative, open, changeable character of the building and also supports the users in their creative work and exchange with each other. Modular boxes in a grid system with movable partitions create a flexible floor plan. This allows for future programmatic changes in the building to be easily accommodated. A landscaped terrace provides an additional open space overlooking the Cleantech Innovation Park.

Photo: Gerber Architekten

Gerber Architekten wishes you and your family a merry and peaceful Christmas season and a healthy and happy New Year! The entire team would like to thank you for an exciting business year 2022.

Photo: Gerber Architekten

Under the motto “People shape spaces, spaces shape people”, the BDA Dortmund Hamm Unna’s theme was current housing concepts in Dortmund’s inner city. Benjamin Sieber, Managing Director of Gerber Architekten, explained the mixed-use concept of Basecamp. In a prime inner-city location, the hotel and student residence combines long-term and short-term forms of living with individual and communal spaces as well as public catering and local amenities. The Basecamp, designed by Gerber Architekten, is representative of the transformation of the urban space from a retail location to a sustainable utilisation concept. The other lectures illuminated a mix of topics (building groups, reform housing, parking space regulations, etc.) that has led to quite controversial discussions in the Baukunstarchiv NRW.

Further information on the event can be found here: https://www.bda-dortmund.de/2022/11/wohnraum-und-stadtraum-in-der-city/.

Caption from left to right: Benjamin Sieber (Gerber Architekten), Hans-Leo Drewes (Bauart), Birgit Niedergethmann (Stadtplanungs- und Bauordnungsamt), Marcus Patrias (Marcus Patrias Architekten), Dirk Becker (post welters + partner) Maximilian Derwald (Derwald Projektentwicklung)

Photo: sim

In its latest publication, “contemporary architecture – Masterpieces around the world”, the Swiss publisher Braun Publishing takes stock of international building activity over the past decade. Our Smart Transformation Museum project is one of the innovative reference projects used to illustrate the development of global architecture. The conciseness of our exhibition centre in Hangzhou, China, is based on the combination of conical structures with a dynamic façade structure. Partially condensed, raised slats open up the building envelope of the three structures in the form of glass window and door areas, which in their transparency make the dynamic communication character of the museum visible to the outside.

More about our project can be found at https://www.gerberarchitekten.de/hangzhou/

Photo: Gerber Architekten