Spectacular architecture

The new construction 

Architecture as a space for experience

The spectacular new experimenta building is instrument, stage and sculpture at the same time. Its architecture – designed by Sauerbruch Hutton, Berlin –transports the concepts of transparency, elegance and material poetry and never ceases to astonish visitors.

Striking space spiral

Compared to the original building, the Hagenbucher oilseed storehouse built in 1936 (renovated in 2008/09) with its compelling brickwork and architecture, the new building is a dynamic structure of glass and steel, designed for exhibitions and experiences. The most distinctive architectural element of this building extension is the “Space Spiral”, an open quasi-public circulation and recreation space, winding its way from the forecourt in front of the building to its roof and linking the various exhibition areas of all five levels.

Change in perspective

Along this path visitors not only get a glimpse of the exhibitions and the glass studios in the atrium. They can also enjoy views of the nearby city and natural environment – the Neckar river basin, the historic city center of Heilbronn, and surrounding vineyards and valleys. – The path then ends at the roof-level observatory where visitors can explore the starry sky. As the spiral rises through the building, visitors actively encounter phenomena of the natural sciences and technical principles and their applications and in addition observer their concrete everyday environment from a new and changing perspective.

Conversion of the existing building

The reinterpretation of the former storehouse

experimenta’s home is the Hagenbucher, the distinctive former oilseed storehouse dating from the 1930’s, consisting of a reinforced concrete skeletal construction and brickwork exterior walls. While the interior spaces are shaped by these reinforced concrete columns and beams, the bricked facade of the original building with typical industrial muntin windows are characteristic for its external perception.

The idea emerged in 2005 to establish a science center in the empty storehouse of the former Hagenbucher oilseed mill on an island in the Neckar river. Known to the citizenry of Heilbronn by the name of the mill, the building was the only remaining relict of the industry that once flourished on the island next to the historic city center.

The distinctive former oilseed storehouse dating from the 1930’s consists of a reinforced concrete skeletal construction and brickwork exterior walls. While the interior spaces are shaped by these reinforced concrete columns and beams, the bricked facade of the original building with typical industrial muntin windows are characteristic for its external perception.

The Berlin-based firm studioinges won the architecture competition. Their plans added a narrow new building adjacent to the storehouse. After a construction period of 18 months, the building opened in fall 2009 as “experimenta – Science Center for the Heilbronn-Franconia Region”.

Historic industrial architecture reinterpreted

The addition of 2009 adopts the materiality of the original structure that dates from 1936. As a “shared cladding” the new building was given the same reddish-brown brick construction as the existing storehouse. The solitary effect of the structure on the island is thus emphasized and continued.

A glazed joint was created where the two buildings intersect, in which the interior is revealed in shades of luminous green and yellow, providing exciting views into and out of the building. The aluminum panels of the joint are illuminated in color and provide a stimulating contrast to the interior to the natural reddish-brown brick of the outer shell. The main staircase is integrated in the green wall along the joint and becomes a sculpture. The staggered arrangement of the existing structure of the old building and addition make the green wall visible from the city as a symbol of the museum. The image of a sliced kiwi has become a metaphor for the play between the envelope and the vertical section through the interior.

The floors of the historic storehouse with its distinctive exposed reinforced concrete framework was largely preserved and previously housed the exhibition. Roof and beams on the topmost story were removed to make room for an event hall designed as a cube with a break area and rooftop terrace.

Following the initial plans for expansion of experimenta Heilbronn, the first conversion plans for the original building began around 2012 since the space in the building was to be allocated to new uses. In the context of the new experimenta building, the original building now serves for course offerings in the labs as well as for experimenta’s administration offices.

Level 4 of the former storehouse has been converted into a student research center with research labs and workshops. The event area on Level 5 with the “Kubus” hall, its foyer and rooftop terrace with views of the historic city center remain unchanged. The ground floor, however, has been converted into a open creative workshop, the Maker Space, with digital and analog workplaces, video and sound workstations, lounge as well as a Forum.

The building’s dominant architecture was preserved despite renovation. Greater alterations, however, were made in the facade of the original Hagenbucher storehouse since many of the old industrial windows had to be enlarged for the new offices and labs. The green seam together with the previous foyer entrance will continue to be the building’s distinctive element.

The most spectacular and greatest change has been the former foyer: after the design of the offices of Sauerbruch Hutton was selected as the winner of the architecture competition for the new building in 2013, a subterranean passage to the new building’s underground foyer was planned.

Text: Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Bochmann, studioinges, Berlin