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UNESCO World Natural Heritage, Messel Pit Visitor Information Center
UNESCO World Natural Heritage, Messel Pit Visitor Information Center
Messel, Germany
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Other Projects by landau kindelbacher architects interior designers
UNESCO World Natural Heritage, Messel Pit Visitor Information Center
Messel, Germany
The task
of designing a visitor information center for the Messel fossil pit, listed as
a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, demanded intense consideration of the
turbulent history of the place, of both the scientific origin and the changing
history of the site itself.
The
stratification of the oil shale as genius loci forms the basic graphical idea
of the building design. Like an earthen clod, the building breaks loose of the
existing angular retaining walls and, with its significant monolithic wall
panels, is oriented towards the pit – the actual highlight of the place. This
movement culminates in the overhanging observation platform, from which one has
an overview of the research site. The visitor symbolically wanders through the
Earth’s strata and enters a unique spatial structure that offers no analogy to
conventional building types.
The
building itself is perfectly tailored to the exhibition with its specific
requirements. The various exhibition rooms in their overall appearance prepare
the visitor for the subject matter that they deal with. This is achieved by
simple but effective architectural means such as confinement and expanse, light
and dark effects, high and low ceilings. The choice of materials was
consciously restricted to sober and restrained to avoid interfering with a free
interplay between changing scenographic installations. At the same time, a
building has been erected that, through its design and the created atmospheres,
blots out everyday life and makes a lasting impression.
of designing a visitor information center for the Messel fossil pit, listed as
a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, demanded intense consideration of the
turbulent history of the place, of both the scientific origin and the changing
history of the site itself.
The
stratification of the oil shale as genius loci forms the basic graphical idea
of the building design. Like an earthen clod, the building breaks loose of the
existing angular retaining walls and, with its significant monolithic wall
panels, is oriented towards the pit – the actual highlight of the place. This
movement culminates in the overhanging observation platform, from which one has
an overview of the research site. The visitor symbolically wanders through the
Earth’s strata and enters a unique spatial structure that offers no analogy to
conventional building types.
The
building itself is perfectly tailored to the exhibition with its specific
requirements. The various exhibition rooms in their overall appearance prepare
the visitor for the subject matter that they deal with. This is achieved by
simple but effective architectural means such as confinement and expanse, light
and dark effects, high and low ceilings. The choice of materials was
consciously restricted to sober and restrained to avoid interfering with a free
interplay between changing scenographic installations. At the same time, a
building has been erected that, through its design and the created atmospheres,
blots out everyday life and makes a lasting impression.
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