MeterUnexpectedly in terms of planning, the award-winning design of the Augsburg office “Löhle neubauer Architekten BDA pmbb” unanimously awarded by the jury is convincing for the transformation of the inner city of Eschborn. In the future, the city hall, city hall, civic office and library will no longer be integrated. As a result, the city center has been given a new look: three independent buildings will provide space and improve the quality of accommodation. Mayor Adnan Sheikh (CDU) Statement.
He said that given the situation in the construction industry, any comments are questionable, but he is certain that it is doubtful whether the project was initially restricted to 75 million euros by the city council in 2012. Sheikh said that this decision may have to be revoked. However, detailed planning can only begin after the contract with the contest winner is finalized and approved by the city councilor. This will happen early next year.
Clinker bricks for city halls and city halls
As the architect Rainer Löhle explained, it is planned to build a two-story city hall at the current location, which includes a spacious foyer, a hall with 600 seats on the ground floor, and a gallery. It is followed by a five-story sunken city hall, in which the city council meeting room will be preserved. In the process, the city is following the requirements of the 2012 referendum. Both buildings will be moved back, and the parking lot behind will disappear for this purpose. Next to the fully renovated old town hall building, a new three-story administrative building is being constructed, which will create space for professional departments.
On the right hand side of Westerbach there is a new two-story city library with a reading terrace, which is marked by a large glass curtain wall facing the town hall square. He explained that each functional building has its own address. Upon request, the original clinker bricks were reused for the city hall and the outer walls of the city hall.
Sheikh praised the “discreet appearance” of the new building complex. The clear separation of functions is also convincing. The importance of the library will also be emphasized by its own building. He was particularly satisfied with the use of bricks as the material for the new facade. Therefore, the draft contains elements of continuity that citizens have always wanted. Shaikh mentioned the referendum in 2012 and the public participation that has already taken place, which is the basis of space planning and planning regulations. In the future, all city government employees who are still distributed in various branches will find a place in the city hall. The mayor announced a seminar for the public next year. Especially the open space design of the New Town Hall Square will be the theme of these workshops.
100 designs were submitted for the redesign, 10 of which were shortlisted by the jury. As explained by the chairman of the jury and architect Zvonko Turkali, only two participants divided the various requirements into three buildings. He explained that compared to other designs, these designs are partly too large for the existing areas, but Löhle and Neubauer believe in clear divisions and clear inclusion of surrounding areas, such as the Rewe grocery store opposite the old town hall. Turkali said that the five-story city hall will still be the tallest building clearly visible, and the old council hall with an atrium will be perfectly integrated into the new part of the building. He emphasized that despite a small amount of intervention in the existing city hall, the design is still functional. Or, as the jury’s written reason stated: “The design creates an attractive urban space in the center of Eschborn, with a high degree of future viability.”
