Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum

Himmelsscheibe Exhibition Centre

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Cultural

COUNTRY: Germany

CITY: Nebra

YEAR: 2004

COMPETITION: Invited competition

AWARDS: Special price

An observation Tower connects an archaeological dig to its wider landscape. Nearby the Corten clad visitors centre with its cargo of sky disk (4,000 years old sky map) paraphernalia wriggles a few metres above rolling fields casting at its extremity a laconic glance skywards.

Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum, drawing, zeichnung, plan, grundriss, lageplan
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum, sketch, Skizze, drawing, zeichnung
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum, model, Modell
Nebra Himmelsscheibe, exhibition centre, Besucherzentrum, model, Modell
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, Eingang, Rainer mader

Kaldewei Entrance

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Office

COUNTRY: Germany

CITY: Ahlen

YEAR: 2007

GFA: 550 sqm

CLIENT: Franz Kaldewei GmbH & Co. KG

PHOTOS: © Rainer Mader, Christian Richters

The small ‘signalising’ pavilion re-focuses and re-orients the visitors entrance to the main Kaldewei production plant. The pavilion stands like a bookend in relation to the original 1930s Works Facade of the leading manufacturer of enamel steel bathtubs. It connects to new reception spaces within the existing structure and to a planned administration wing.

The mass of the stone-clad volume projects acrobatically. Structural dexterity is not the issue, mass is here co-opted as a silent, announcing presence. The lobby behind is carved out of the existing volume. Meeting rooms hover above the entrance, the white stone of the new facade extends inwards as lobby floor and wall material. A steel spiral stair stands centre-stage and backlit by a dematerialised ‘Light Wall’. After the spatial expansion of the lobby, lower ceilings and an emphasized materiality of wood panels introduce a contrasting intimacy. The ‘Actor Stair’ leads the visitor through a short but complex spatial sequence. The spatial and material language here is closely related to that of BOLLES+WILSONs first Kaldewei building. – the nearby KKC (Competence Centre) 2003-2005.

Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, Eingang, christian Richters
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, plan, Lageplan
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, stairs, treppe, Rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, stairs, treppe, foto, rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, stairs, treppe, foto, christian richters
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, stairs, treppe, foto, rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, stairs, treppe, foto, christian richters
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, Eingang, treppe, foto, Rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, Eingang, treppe, foto, Rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, Eingang, treppe, foto, Rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, Eingang, Rainer mader
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, plan florrplan, section
Kaldewei entrance, Ahlen, stairs, treppe, sketch, Skizze, Peter Wilson, drawing
Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_christian richters

Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Office

COUNTRY: Germany

CITY: Münster

YEAR: 2004

COMPETITION: 2001, First prize

CLIENT: Wohn und Stadtbau GmbH

PHOTOS: © Christian Richters

Entering the city from the north, a straight road, at the apex of its perspectival triangle a silhouette of cathedral and other church towers. Progressing into this picture, slightly downhill the view is gradually obscured, the outer traffic ring crossed.

The next 500 m rise, not a dramatic topography but enough to awaken expectation – ‘up there I will be in the city’. Buildings on the right enclose and to some extent counteract the latent drama of this ascent, this arrival. The left is undergoing a transformation, a re-configuring, a chance for a modulated roofline to enhance topographic character.

This is the intention of the sculpted silhouette of the new offices of the ‘Wohn+Stadtbau’ Housing Association. Its crest location is critical. The structured plaster façades of both volumes do not just echo but enhance site topography and the drama of entrance.

Entering the building involves a counter and smaller scale spatial sequence. The building front steps back from the heavily trafficked street to a transparent foyer. The ground floor facilitates intensive visitor traffic, waiting spaces extend into the internal court and playground.

Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_christian richters
Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_christian richters
Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_christian richters
Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_christian richters
Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_plan
Wohn und Stadtbau Housing Association Headquarters_munster_collage
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca, sketch, watercolour, Peter Wilson

Ligor Rembeci

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Residential

COUNTRY: Albania

CITY: Korça

YEAR: 2021

CLIENT: Bregu Group

PHOTOS: © Roman Mensing

The original BOLLES+WILSON 2016 Masterplan for the center of Korça identified the Ligor Rembeci Quarter as a zone for careful insertion of new buildings in symbiosis with existing stone villas – this strategy – activating a block interior accessed by a network of passages – is now emerging with the recently completed Serenity Villas.

Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Masterplan concept a weaving together of new acupuncture insertions with historic stone villas
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Emerging Ligor Rembeci Quarter – Centre: BOLLES+WILSON serenity villas – Background: other BOLLES+WILSON Korça projects
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Sketch plan of networked passages with shops + cafes
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Passages in the block interior
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Individual buildings close packed to give a Serlio like urban texture
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Naples Yellow Hotel passage leads through to the masterplan defined Cathedral Square
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Late addition – the Naples Yellow Hotel stands in the garden of an existing villa
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Serenity villas with insemination sun canopies
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca, sketch
Insemination sun canopy
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca
Serenity villas nestle behind newly restored Greek Embassy – Left: Boulevard Shen Gjergji, now traffic free
Ligor rembeci, Albania, Korca, sketch, watercolour, Peter Wilson
The Ligor Rembeci neighbourhood fronts on to the Cathedral Square

Von-Galen-Grundschule

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Competition / School

COUNTRY: German

CITY: Gescher

YEAR: 2023

COMPETITION: Closed competition, 3rd Prize

COLLABORATOR: wbp Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH, Bochum

GFA: 4.117 sqm

CLIENT: Glockenstadt Gescher

The design carefully combines the historic building fabric with a modern extension. The existing façades are preserved and linked by a central, wedge-shaped structure that forms the heart of the school with its cafeteria, auditorium, and foyer.

All areas are fully accessible, with outdoor spaces clearly defined: a large playground to the north, a nature-oriented learning zone to the southwest, and a green entrance courtyard to the southeast. The foyer serves as a central meeting point and hub, connecting classrooms, multipurpose spaces, and flexible learning areas.

The new building respects the historic architecture while reinterpreting its language in a contemporary way—creating a school that is open, functional, and identity-shaping for students, staff, and the city of Gescher.

Siteplan
Elevation south
Elevation west
section 1-1
Ground Floor Plan
Upper Floor Plan
section 2-2
Interior Perspective