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Architects: Böll Architekten
- Year: 2012
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Photographs:Thomas Mayer
Text description provided by the architects. This building was originally built as a pump house which was part of a huge steel works in the very centre of the city of Bochum. It is one of the few remaining structures of the industrial era. The building is situated adjacent to the “Jahrhunderthalle”, a huge industrial hall hosting theater and music performances. The pump house serves as a restaurant and visitor center.
The architecture is designed to preserve as much as possible of the original atmosphere. The design reflects a harmonious ensemble of existing buildings and the newly added construction. The building, with its open hall and steel-framework façade, has been enclosed with an environmental mantle in compliance with climate control regulations. This made it possible to keep the atmosphere of the existing interior including its industrial rustic charm and its delicate roof trusses.
The façade is composed of partially perforated troughed sheets made of steel and encloses all outside surfaces of the building, including the roof. The result is an abstract, serene building that contrasts with the vast remainders of the old steel works. Within the building, a white box structure for restrooms separates the two functional areas, the restaurant and the visitor center.
