HHF architekten: Mensa Kirschgarten - best architects 09

HHF architekten

Mensa Kirschgarten

best architects 09

other buildings

Place

Basel | Schweiz

Studio

www.hhf.ch

Photos

Tom Bisig

Description

The purpose of the project was to integrate a cafeteria into the existing lobby of a high school building. Wood strips are installed on top of the existing concrete floor and wall structure extending out to the courtyard like Ribbons. The wood strips are in the same time serving as a sunscreen covering the terrace, where students sit and eat their lunch. The new wood construction now links the exterior to the interior enabling direct access from the courtyard. On the interior the wood facing traces the existing concrete structure. A glass facade which does almost not appear to the outside works as thermal barrier. With that the outer appearance of the building with its slim columns could be kept as before. Being a landmarked building, designed by the important swiss architect Hans Bernoulli, every intervention had to be reversible. The project reacts to that requirement, the construction of the interior wood facing has only very few connections to the existing structure. To avoid a typical school atmosphere and to establish the cafeteria as new informal meetingpoint within the two high schools, all the furniture was designed by the architects. The colour concept with its different shades of grey was done in collaboration with the swiss artist Gido Wiederkehr.