Bad Aibling City Hall
ARCHITECTS
Behnisch Architekten
LOCATION
Bad Aibling, Germany
CATEGORY
Cultural Center
AREA
4300.0 m²
PROJECT YEAR
2012
PHOTOGRAPHS
David Matthiesen
MANUFACTURERS
Artluce, Herholz
Text description provided by architect.
In the center of Bad Aibling is Marienplatz, a historic square flanked by public buildings, retail and a hotel. It is here that the town’s two main streets insersect and where the existing 1970s Town Hall stands.
To further invigorate the city center, Bad Aibling has comissioned a new Town Hall.
The existing building will be razed to the basement and from this level the new building will rise - respecting the loadbearing capacity and the existing supply network - balanced on the the existing basement foundations.
The new Town Hall will primarily accommodate functions highly frequented by the public. It is designed to provide a multitude of programs – including civic services, administrative offices, a public library, a special room for weddings, and the city council chamber which can also be used for a vareity of other events - all under one roof.
The ground floor level will be also house several shops and a café invigorating the center of Bad Aibling even after business hours.
The visitior enters the wood-clad building with its strong form from Marienplatz to a view through the house that expands into fractured planes.
This main feature - a light refracting wall - dominates the atrium space and rises to a glass ceiling.
It connects the exterior public realm of Marienplatz with all the functional spaces creating a vibrant public hub - a flowing communicative thoroughfare for chance and planned encounterss.