Expansion of an Office Building - Marbach am Neckar - West Germany

Abstract

The Marbach Records Hall, used for the study of modem German literature, is connected to the Schiller Museum by a low terrace. The shape of the museum, similar to a castle, creates a relationship of subordination with all the surrounding structures. In this case, that subordination was the main factor conditioning the architectural design and heights of the new building. The building consists of several divided modules, in terrace form, arranged around the premises to be used. These modules are in turn made up of reading rooms and card catalogues. Next to the main entrance there is a lecture hall and a small coffee shop. With the exception of the lecture hall, the entire structure has a basement below it. The storage rooms and book and magazine storage spaces have been distributed on two floors underneath the card catalogue areas. Exposed concrete was used for the entire construction, both for the structure as well as for the interior and exterior surfaces, contrasting with the dark bronze colored aluminum bay windows.