University Campus Westend, Frankfurt

Link to the City

Details
Clients
Hessian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Regional Development
Type
Campus
Collaboration
Thomas Müller Ivan Reimann Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH Berlin
Period
2008 - 2013
Status
Realised
Area
15 000 m²
Country
Germany

Goethe University’s “Uni Campus Westend” is a cluster of new buildings housing the specialized social sciences and education departments. Together with the Administration building, they create a link between the Campus and the city of Frankfurt. The design of the space between the buildings – open lawns, informal tree layout and natural stone paving – aligns with the Campus Park, whereas the terrace above the Faculty Library opens to a more urban setting. The row of densely planted ash trees of high crown height optically extends the facade line to complete the architectural whole. In the inaccessible library courtyard, the space’s artificiality is juxtaposed with an abundance of luxuriant vegetation, an opulence of trees and perennials. With its consciously exaggerated and inflated color contrasts it’s reminiscent of a detail of an abstract picture of nature, the incongruity of which makes it seem like an inlay.