Competition 2008 – 1st prize
Design Volkwin Marg and Hubert Nienhoff with Rüdiger von Helmholt and Carsten Borucki
Partners Hubert Nienhoff, Christian Hoffmann (associated partner)
Project leader Jutta Hartmann-Pohl
Team execution Gesche Arns-Büsker, Stefan Greuel, Michael Haase, Vera Hendrix, Rouja König, Evelyn Martens, Angela Modemann, Franz Lensing, Simone Schröder-Ripp, Tom Siehoff, Philipp Weber
Planning partnership with Winter Ing.
Landscaping Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten
Lighting Conceptlicht
Client City of Gelsenkirchen
GFA 23,170 m²
Construction 2010-2012
Photographers:
Hans-Georg Esch
The design retains and renovates the existing listed 1920s brick facades, but constructs a completely new interior for the city hall behind them, integrated into the shell of the building. The new structure will contain rooms for the administration, the political committees, the city council facilities, a Citizens’ Center and other administrative units plus a multi-functional events room at the customary historical location in the city center.
The multifunctional Citizens’ Forum will be at the heart of the New Hans Sachs Building, in the great courtyard. This faces the sunlit citizens’ square so that in fine weather the west façade can be opened up for festive events. Concerts and events can take place indoors and in the open. This fluid transition between interior and exterior will create an impression of an ‘open building’ in citizens’ minds.
The design integrates innovative solutions for an appropriate, ecological and energy-frugal overall scheme for a public building.
