Expansion of the Aalen University of Applied Sciences . They are located on a hill with a beautiful view of Aalen. Originally, the site was the expansion area of the University of Applied Sciences, a building designed by Günther Behnisch in 1969 .
Summary
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- 1 Description
- 1 Landscape and Architecture
- 2 Touching the ground
- 3 Organization
- 4 Precise Shapes
- 5 Technique
- 6 Notable spaces
- 2 Plans
- 3 Other images
- 4 Source
Description
Landscape and Architecture
Three buildings, covered in wood, where there was a master plan, with a linear arrangement of buildings and a central pedestrian path. The trees planted along the streets integrate the buildings with nature. A square surrounded by the library and the faculties, provide an outdoor space to distract yourself after a long day. The buildings constructed are the first cover of a developing villa, a research and education campus.
Touching the ground
Objects of precise form, arranged in linear terraces, divided by low walls. The buildings are parallel to the walls. The ramps connect the different levels of terraces. The paths and squares form an urban system built with a concrete, asphalt and gravel base. A light and transparent texture of wooden slats, contains the massive volumes. The precise structure creates a new relationship with the trees in the streets. This emphasizes the relationship between nature and building.
Organization
The distribution of the buildings is organized in 3 functional layers. On the east are the offices and functional spaces, on the west, the classrooms and laboratories. The reading rooms and the conference rooms form the tops of the buildings. Light patios and stairs alternate in the circulation area.
Precise Shapes
The clear composition draws attention to the facades, which have a dense texture of vertical lines. Made of larch, the wooden shutters create a deep and changeable surface; a game of visual transparency and closure. It takes 90 seconds to open the blinds and the transparent facade appears. Depending on their position, the building will look like wood or a glass object. The 2 420 blinds cover an approximate surface of 4,500 m² of facade. Given the 60 cm modular grid, the design allows a flexible division of the enclosures.
The supporting structure of the 3-story buildings is concrete in situ. The markings on the formwork show how the building was erected. Inside the building, this skeleton is sophisticated in terms of its finishes and elements. Public spaces are finished with local blue-gray limestone. The color is very similar to that of concrete. The non-bearing walls are made of plaster and painted cardboard.
Technique
Basically the main facade is divided into three functional levels. Floor to ceiling glass cloths line the long sides of buildings. A wooden structure with a 60 cm modular grid, includes double glass, which provides thermal insulation. The ventilated cavity between the glass facade and the wooden lattice is a service space. The wooden shutters are mounted on a galvanized steel substructure. With this self-supporting system, horizontal stresses are brought to the concrete structure. The shutter slats are mechanically operated individually.
Notable spaces
Given the beautiful view of the city of Aalen, an external reading room, a balcony, was added to the library. A quiet and relaxing space to read, think or take a breath. Inside the buildings the concrete structure creates a very intimate atmosphere.
The long internal corridors are interrupted by 3-level voids. Thus, the interior space has a great contrast with the exterior of the building. The voids are covered in glass. Going down the central stairs, a sequence of windows frame the view of the landscape. Precision in form and technique create a new building, like wooden furniture on the new campus.
