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University of Mannheim
University of Mannheim
Bismarckstraße, Quadrate, Mannheim, Germany
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University of Mannheim
Bismarckstraße, Quadrate, Mannheim, Germany
Excellent education and research require rooms that can keep pace with the high demands of the university - visually and technically. For years, the mighty facades of the residential palace of Mannheim have only concealed dreary administrative architecture. This has changed fundamentally over the course of the past ten years. The Stuttgart based architectural office Blocher Blocher Partners has contributed substantially to the functional reprogramming of the Mannheim Alma Mater. An overview of the building measures, commissioned by and in close cooperation with the state of Baden- Württemberg since 2001.
The “renaissance of the baroque palace”, as formulated by the fundraising campaign, radiates brightness and motivates ambitious targets: Mannheim is regarded as one of the leading universities for economics and social sciences in Germany. In the past years, the growth and success of the Mannheim education establishment had led to greatly changing room and space requirements that could only be accomplished by an extensive new structure.
By sanitising and re-designing the east part of the palace complex, namely the east wing with its main entrance, as well as parts of the north wing, another section around the so-called Schneckenhof has been completed. The fundamental constructive and technical sanitation of the entire building included a foyer, an auditorium with a seating capacity for 400, training rooms and 50 workplaces for the administration. The planning started in 2009 and took barrierfree accesses as well as extensive fire-protection measures into account.
The appropriate solution for every requirement
The core of the latest renovation is the palace’s largest auditorium with contemporary media equipping and functional comfort. Bands of light on the walls and ceiling harmonise with the proportions of the room. Bright light, the warm tones of the wooden flooring and the expressively layered wall panels provide the clearly structured room with an atmosphere appropriate for concentrated work. Especially when filled to capacity – at the beginning of the new term, the university is anticipating more new students than ever. Lockers and furnishings in the entrance area of the new auditorium build communication zones for the students and are open for individual usage.
The foyer to the Schneckenhof wing was rebuilt in the 1950s. This required a discrete re-design, which, on the one hand, pays tribute to the independently-existing characteristic architectural language of its time, whilst simultaneously catering for the current requirements of the university.
Already completed in 2010 were the renovation and modernisation of the student union information services (“Infothek”) in the canteen building opposite the palace. Here, too, ambiance as well as a clear structural overview were essential.
Over the years, the building measures, which were realised by Blocher Blocher Partners, added together to an impressive list:
The reconstruction of the baroque roof silhouette in the middle wing of the palace was a rerequisite for building the new Hasso Plattner library. Just in time for the city’s anniversary in 2007, it opened its doors for the public. Despite the limited capacity load of the existing building, the library area could be extended to three storeys due to the additional construction volume that was gained in the roof and completely new statics, so that the previously distributed book and media stock are combined for the first time to a powerful generator of information, providing an adequate number of workplaces – an essential step towards the optimisation of the university’s infrastructure. Not to forget, a number of sanitary facilities were re-designed and extended to take the demands placed on the modern washroom into account.
Beautiful learning in the most modern auditorium.
A number of auditoriums were modernised in parallel, contributing a lasting effect on teaching conditions. Due to the financial contributions by private sponsors, a total of eight rooms could be renovated. Renewing the technical equipment led to the creation of clear spatial images and textured surfaces, partly in close coordination with the sponsors to achieve an individual characteristic touch.
The Mannheim palace is a knowledge park with a memory: as part of the overall renovation, historic room structures were re-gained in the baroque palace’s Corps de Logis. This made it possible to present parts of the historic palace furnishing in their original location. Another storey in the middle wing is occupied with a series of modern exhibition rooms. For the first time, the story of Germany‘s largest palace can be depicted in the context of the location which formed the spiritual and cultural hub of the Electoral Palatinate during the age of enlightened absolutism. Last but not least, the extended palace museum together with the central knights‘ hall (Rittersaal) and the garden hall (Gartensaal) below, provide attractive locations for events in the centre of the university.
Prime example for the revitalisation of historic buildings
The renovations over the past years have moved the extensive palace closer to the town, again. Equipped with a contemporary functionality, the university can clearly emphasise its value to the modern scientific community, thanks to the exposed location of the prior residency in the city landscape. In this way, the Mannheim palace has become a prime example for the revitalisation of historic buildings, becoming more visible not only to public, but also to private property developers over the past few years.
Planning in the context of existing constructions requires that the architects creatively confront the most diverse requirements – ranging from current usage parameters to agreements regarding the preservation of monuments. By sustainably combining historic and new architecture the university in the palace pays not only tribute to the past – but also adds a considerable contribution to the future of Mannheim.
Read more about this project: https://blocherpartners.com/en/projects/social-culture/castle-of-mannheim
The “renaissance of the baroque palace”, as formulated by the fundraising campaign, radiates brightness and motivates ambitious targets: Mannheim is regarded as one of the leading universities for economics and social sciences in Germany. In the past years, the growth and success of the Mannheim education establishment had led to greatly changing room and space requirements that could only be accomplished by an extensive new structure.
By sanitising and re-designing the east part of the palace complex, namely the east wing with its main entrance, as well as parts of the north wing, another section around the so-called Schneckenhof has been completed. The fundamental constructive and technical sanitation of the entire building included a foyer, an auditorium with a seating capacity for 400, training rooms and 50 workplaces for the administration. The planning started in 2009 and took barrierfree accesses as well as extensive fire-protection measures into account.
The appropriate solution for every requirement
The core of the latest renovation is the palace’s largest auditorium with contemporary media equipping and functional comfort. Bands of light on the walls and ceiling harmonise with the proportions of the room. Bright light, the warm tones of the wooden flooring and the expressively layered wall panels provide the clearly structured room with an atmosphere appropriate for concentrated work. Especially when filled to capacity – at the beginning of the new term, the university is anticipating more new students than ever. Lockers and furnishings in the entrance area of the new auditorium build communication zones for the students and are open for individual usage.
The foyer to the Schneckenhof wing was rebuilt in the 1950s. This required a discrete re-design, which, on the one hand, pays tribute to the independently-existing characteristic architectural language of its time, whilst simultaneously catering for the current requirements of the university.
Already completed in 2010 were the renovation and modernisation of the student union information services (“Infothek”) in the canteen building opposite the palace. Here, too, ambiance as well as a clear structural overview were essential.
Over the years, the building measures, which were realised by Blocher Blocher Partners, added together to an impressive list:
The reconstruction of the baroque roof silhouette in the middle wing of the palace was a rerequisite for building the new Hasso Plattner library. Just in time for the city’s anniversary in 2007, it opened its doors for the public. Despite the limited capacity load of the existing building, the library area could be extended to three storeys due to the additional construction volume that was gained in the roof and completely new statics, so that the previously distributed book and media stock are combined for the first time to a powerful generator of information, providing an adequate number of workplaces – an essential step towards the optimisation of the university’s infrastructure. Not to forget, a number of sanitary facilities were re-designed and extended to take the demands placed on the modern washroom into account.
Beautiful learning in the most modern auditorium.
A number of auditoriums were modernised in parallel, contributing a lasting effect on teaching conditions. Due to the financial contributions by private sponsors, a total of eight rooms could be renovated. Renewing the technical equipment led to the creation of clear spatial images and textured surfaces, partly in close coordination with the sponsors to achieve an individual characteristic touch.
The Mannheim palace is a knowledge park with a memory: as part of the overall renovation, historic room structures were re-gained in the baroque palace’s Corps de Logis. This made it possible to present parts of the historic palace furnishing in their original location. Another storey in the middle wing is occupied with a series of modern exhibition rooms. For the first time, the story of Germany‘s largest palace can be depicted in the context of the location which formed the spiritual and cultural hub of the Electoral Palatinate during the age of enlightened absolutism. Last but not least, the extended palace museum together with the central knights‘ hall (Rittersaal) and the garden hall (Gartensaal) below, provide attractive locations for events in the centre of the university.
Prime example for the revitalisation of historic buildings
The renovations over the past years have moved the extensive palace closer to the town, again. Equipped with a contemporary functionality, the university can clearly emphasise its value to the modern scientific community, thanks to the exposed location of the prior residency in the city landscape. In this way, the Mannheim palace has become a prime example for the revitalisation of historic buildings, becoming more visible not only to public, but also to private property developers over the past few years.
Planning in the context of existing constructions requires that the architects creatively confront the most diverse requirements – ranging from current usage parameters to agreements regarding the preservation of monuments. By sustainably combining historic and new architecture the university in the palace pays not only tribute to the past – but also adds a considerable contribution to the future of Mannheim.
Read more about this project: https://blocherpartners.com/en/projects/social-culture/castle-of-mannheim
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