ÜberAll

Master Thesis

Task

The path for later career choices is paved at a young age. It is not uncommon for young adults to enter professional fields that they were enthusiastic about or had as a hobby when they were younger. A small moment, a book they have received as a gift, a movie or a certain place can be decisive in arousing their interest. The special thing about astronomy is that many findings are based purely on observation. So even as a hobby astronomer, you can contribute to scientific findings. Ron Bissinger is a good example of this with his discovery of the exoplanet HD 149026 b. By looking at stars, you can peer into the past. This symbiosis of past and present can also be seen in the ruins of the Chateau La Mothe Chandeniers. The foundation, called "überAll e.V.", aims to bring the world of astronomy and the path to the stars closer to even non-experts.

Description

The design aims to accept the decay and not to create a revival of romantic nostalgia. It is about the process of decay that makes this place special. The exhibition building was placed in the castle without touching it. The spaces in between create a field of tension between old and new. In the present, the new building communicates with the ruined structure of the castle. In the future, when the castle has completely disintegrated, the building will come into contact with the other research bodies and the surrounding nature. Stepping out" is an important element in framing certain situations. This situation is dramaturgically reinforced by the active step that has to be taken. The structures are elevated and offer the first interaction with the building on the open first floor. From there, stairs lead to the upper floors, where contact with the research or exhibition takes place. From this point onwards, the façade removes all visual contact with the surroundings. This directs full concentration to the interior of the building. The exhibition building is the reference body for the entire area, which is why it stands out from the other bodies in its appearance. In each building there is an element that stands out. It serves as an inner-spatial reference system. These elements are, for example, the telescopes or the multifunctional room of the exhibition.

Location

Concept

Overall reference system

Diagram: sightlines between the exhibition building and the scattered research buildings

The concept of the design is concerned with making the relationship of the universe tangible. experience. In a figurative sense, I see the ruin as a sun. There are research buildings scattered around the site. An interaction is created with the exhibition building in the ruin by actively breaking through the otherwise closed façade. The view that you initially have of the research buildings from the exhibition can be experienced in the opposite direction later in the visit in the opposite direction.

Interior structure

Diagram: a central element surrounded by layers of decreasing publicity

The exterior concept of the reference system is taken up again in the interior of all the buildings. There is a central element in all bodies that characterizes the surrounding spatial structure and establishes a reference (such as the pierced multifunctional space in the exhibition building). There is a further level of public access all around. This area varies in width, depending on the degree of publicity.

Basic building structure

Diagram: elevated volume with an open ground floor and a vertical sightline

The architectural design of the structures determines the line of sight in and around the building and initiates interactions. The first floor remains free and thus facilitates the first step towards interacting with the building. From there, stairs lead to the upper floors. On the upper floor, the closed façade prevents a horizontal view and focuses on the starry sky. The one-dimensional horizontal references are made possible by precisely placed openings. The strong contrast emphasizes the few openings and the framing view.

Circulation inside the exhibition

Diagram: staircase skipping one floor at a time through the full height of the building

The main exhibition building in the castle describes the development of a star. Each floor describes one stage. The exhibition is complete once you have gone all the way up and down again. You skip one floor at a time. Open spaces deal with stages that can arise from two different preliminary phases. The multifunctional space that has been pushed through is the defining element of the interior of this building.

Construction

Diagram: floor slabs with steel tension cables and a lattice girder on the top floor

The exhibition building has a floor area of 10x10m with a grid spacing of 3m. The building extends 21m in height over eight floors. So that the center can remain column-free, there is a lattice girder construction on the top floor. The other ceiling slabs are supported in the middle by steel cables. The steel tension ropes reproduce the shape of the multi-purpose room. A two-layer PVC tarpaulin thermally separates the interior from the exterior. The thermal envelope is a particular challenge for the exhibition building due to its structure. The transition from the exterior to the interior takes place on the second and seventh floors.