new entrance foyer and shop
during summer 2010 the technical museum together with querkraft architekten designed a new
entrance foyer and museum shop.

a modern museum service requires a correspondingly
modern level of service – for this purpose space is a must. older museum
buildings are challenged to expand and modernise whilst remaining attached to
their existing historical structures. in the 90s the technical museum faced
precisely this difficulty as it tried to gain more space for a larger entrance
foyer, a new museum shop and café as well as sufficient amenities, cloakroom
space and ticketing capacity. the architectural solution that was chosen in the
90s was a steel-glass box placed in front of the existing historical structure.
this solution proved problematic on a few levels shortly after the opening in
1999. the foyer was dominated by large temperature fluctuations, poor acoustics
and ventilation, as well as less than optimal visitor circulation.

a competition followed
in which querkraft architekten
managed to convince the 6-person jury with their design.

basic
principle of the new design:
the creation of clear master plan and visitor
circulation with an accompanying welcoming emotional atmosphere, which improves
the building physics. at the middle of their design solution are
multifunctional pieces of furniture made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic and
fabric. these ‘trees’ provide seating, shade and acoustic absorption and at
night they serve as an illuminate bodies which fill the room with white or blue
glowing light. the objects, which resemble trees and can be perceived as a
innuendo to the relationship between technology and nature, formally envelope
the steel columns and allow a view through the glass ceiling and on to the
historical façade.
the shop, which has to do with little floor space,
receives new, flexible moveable furnishings for the presentation of products –
aligned to the overall design principle.
the realised design from querkraft architekten reveals a definite architectural statement,
which communicates with the existing structure and at the same time fulfils the
functional requirements of a modern museum entrance.