Post by BEHNISCH ARCHITEKTURBÜRO

Bollwerk Stuttgart Reuse and Refurbishment The former Landesgirokasse at Bollwerk was completed in 1997 and occupies an entire city block at the edge of Stuttgart’s city center. Designed as a perimeter block with a public courtyard, cinema and restaurant at ground level, it combines administration and urban life in one structure. Thirty years after the completion of this landmark project in central Stuttgart, we are revisiting our original design and developing plans for the complete refurbishment of the building for a new purpose. The focus of the project is not replacement of the original structure, but its adaptation for a new use in a new century.  The existing structure, existing materials and existing spatial qualities of the original design form the basis for the new concept. Technical systems are being updated, layouts are being adjusted and we are preparing the building for new requirements. Reuse means working with what is already there to the greatest extent possible, and understanding the potential inherent in the existing building. It means acknowledging embodied resources and extending the life cycle of a significant building. The Bollwerk project shows that with ample imagination and creativity the transformation of a purpose-built structure can very often lead to very satisfying outcomes, while making the best use of existing resources. Movie: Martin Haas Camera: Hans Grosse; Edit: Martin Kuhnert Stefan Behnisch Hon FAIA | Jörg Usinger | Florian Waller | Maria Hirnsperger | Angie Müller-Puch | Matt Noblett FAIA, NCARB | Florian von Hayek | Christine Napolitano, AIA NCARB | Erik Hegre AIA, NCARB | Michael Innerarity

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