Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg

Dom Quartier

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Office

COUNTRY: Germany

CITY: Magdeburg

YEAR: 2002

COMPETITION: Invited Competition 1997, First Prize

GFA: 48.000 sqm

CLIENT: Nord/LB

PHOTOS: © Roland Halbe, Klemens Ortmeyer, Christian Richters, Edmund Summer

The extensive Square of Germany’s oldest Gothic Cathedral is framed to the east and north by Neo-Baroque (post-war reconstructed) Parliament and Chancellery for the state of Sachsen-Anhalt. The enclosure of the square is completed with these two new blocks housing a bank (Nord LB), Chamber of Commerce, offices, shops and restaurants.

The wider urban context is noble but battered and heterogeneous in the extreme. Only occasional fragments of the medieval or 19th century Prussian Administration city remain, marooned between socialist system built housing slabs. With German Reunification and the subsequent building boom Magdeburg like most east German cities was the recipient of a number of inner city shopping blocks and speculative offices competing in the free market rush with an explosion of out-of-town shopping and office boxes. In the subsequent economically depressed atmosphere the two new ‘Domplatz’ blocks represent foundation stones for a considered qualitative and long term investment in the culture of the city.

Two blocks are divided into three (three users) by the introduction of the ‘Bankgasse’ which bisects and animates the larger block, extends a Domplatz tree Allee and focuses on the neighbouring St. Sebastian. A compositional strategy of scenographic sequences (external and internal), and significant details (serpentine corners), rigorous geometries and poetic moments.

Volumetric stringency (a rigorous facade height of 20 metres and paired windows), are ameliorated by the patchwork texture and colour variations of the blue/grey stone facade (Brazilian Azul Macaubas). A haptic richness not unlike the irregular weathering of the 800 year old cathedral stones. Glazed and canopied Roof Pavilions set up above the rigorous parapet line a sequence of cross city vector relationships.

Systematized Office Interiors are interrupted by a larger sequence of movement spaces with light walls and material elaboration (Banking Hall, Atrium, Entrance Lobbies, Rooftop Restaurant).

Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Foto
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Foto
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Plan
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto, Roland halbe
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, sketch, drawing, Zeichnung,
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Foto
Magdeburg, Nord LB, dom Quartier, Foto
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Foto
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, interior, interieur
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier, Foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, Erdgeschoss, groundfloor, floorplan
Magdeburg, Nord LB, Som Quartier
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, Zeichnung, detail, schnitt, section
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, foto
Nord LB, Dom Quartier Magdeburg, drawing, sketch, Skizze, Zeichnung, Peter Wilson
Magdeburg, Nord LB, dom Quartier, Drawing, Sketch, Peter Wilson
suzuki house_japan_ryuji miyamoto_interior

Suzuki House

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Residential

COUNTRY: Japan

CITY: Tokyo

YEAR: 1993

CLIENT: Akira Suzuki

AWARD: Goldmedal from Japanese Architects Institute 1994

PHOTOS: © Ryuji Miyamoto

A house as a large family room suspended in the city.

A house with a child’s room suspended within.

A house with two legs and a usable roof.

A house glanced by a passing Ninja (Impressed Shadow Façade).

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Street view at night
suzuki house_japan_ryuji miyamoto_street view by day
Street view at day
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Sketch
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Interior
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suzuki house_japan_sketch
Internal organization sketches
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suzuki house_japan_isonometric
suzuki house_japan_isonometric
suzuki house_japan_isonometric
suzuki house_japan_plan
Ground floor
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First floor
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Second floor
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Passing Ninja
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Kitchen and dining room
100 west cromwell road_london_residential_wohnturm

100 West Cromwell Road

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Mixed Use

COUNTRY: UK

CITY: London

YEAR: 2008

CLIENT: Brookfield Development (UK) LTD, TESCO Stores Limited

PHOTOS MODEL: © Julian Vogt

The raked tower silhouette terminates the wide street axis for those exiting London westward. At its base the tower extends horizontally, a Fitness Arm (window to pool) frames the Tesco Plaza. The E Form begins at the third floor concourse, above existing carpark decks. The south elevation is glazed (winter gardens); the east and west are dark rippled ceramic.

Community Use: The inclusion of an additional swimming pool for the sole use of the local community has increased the Gross Internal Area of the community facility by some 30%. A Community Trust will be established to manage the pool and associated facilities.

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100 west cromwell road_london_residential_wohnturm_model
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100 west cromwell road_london_residential_wohnturm:sketch_skizze

Von-Galen-Grundschule

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Competition / School

COUNTRY: German

CITY: Gescher

YEAR: 2023

COMPETITION: Closed competition, 3rd Prize

COLLABORATOR: wbp Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH, Bochum

GFA: 4.117 sqm

CLIENT: Glockenstadt Gescher

The design carefully combines the historic building fabric with a modern extension. The existing façades are preserved and linked by a central, wedge-shaped structure that forms the heart of the school with its cafeteria, auditorium, and foyer.

All areas are fully accessible, with outdoor spaces clearly defined: a large playground to the north, a nature-oriented learning zone to the southwest, and a green entrance courtyard to the southeast. The foyer serves as a central meeting point and hub, connecting classrooms, multipurpose spaces, and flexible learning areas.

The new building respects the historic architecture while reinterpreting its language in a contemporary way—creating a school that is open, functional, and identity-shaping for students, staff, and the city of Gescher.

Siteplan
Elevation south
Elevation west
section 1-1
Ground Floor Plan
Upper Floor Plan
section 2-2
Interior Perspective
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior

Blackburn House

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Residential

COUNTRY: UK

CITY: London

YEAR: 1987

PHOTOS: © BOLLES+WILSON

No grand statement rather a series of practical opportunities. First the restructuring of the row of rundown Mews Houses into a new white box. A large window breaks through the white façade, the view is not good, the glass is opaque, blinded.

Ground floor office, a two floor apartment housing, a collection; Barry Flanagan (hare), Scott Burton (chair), Andy Warhol (portrait), Bruce McLean (table), Ron Arad (table), Jasper Morrison (sofa). Interior details are added to this list – supporting column and cantilevered balcony in steel, a vitrine, a floating boat – seat – handrail – individual narratives in a limited range of materials.

The upper floor with its 14 m skylight-wall functions as gallery, the lower lobby as chair hall. Sitting on the central barge seat the visitor has reached the vortex of the composition hovering like the house itself, not quite part of London.

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Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior
Blackburn House_London_Residential_Wohnhaus_Photo_Foto_Interior