dub house_haus dub_munster

Dub House

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Residential

COUNTRY: Germany

CITY: Munster

YEAR: 1993

PHOTOS: © BOLLES+WILSON

The principal element, a Blue Glazed Brick Wall corrects a disastrous alteration and also breaks the tyranny of uniform ceiling height.

The second added element, a Zinc Clad Studio Box stands adjacent the Blue Wall. The two set up an external and internal play – geometric volumes – the abstract language of the plan respected and developed.

A very modest commission, careful details with the potential of enhancing the everyday lives of their users.

dub house_haus dub_munster
dub house_haus dub_munster
dub house_haus dub_munster
dub house_haus dub_munster
dub house_haus dub_munster

Münster City Library

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Cultural
COUNTRY: Germany
CITY: Münster
YEAR: 1993
COMPETITION: 1987, First Prize
CLIENT: City of Münster
COLLABORATOR: Harms & Partner (in realization phase)
AWARDS: Mies van der Rohe Award 1995, Nomination
German Architecture Award 1995, Commendation
PHOTOS: © Christian Richters, Julia Cawley (update 2010)

The Münster Library was BOLLES+WILSON’s first major public commission. After more than ten years it remains near the top of Germany’s ‘library-user-ranking-list’. A verification not only of functionality but also of the attention to detail, to spatial multiplicity and to the ambience and atmosphere within.

The complexities of the overall building form are derived from internal organisation and from a careful re-constitution of the fragmented context. A new pedestrian street on the axis of the nearby Lamberti Church divides the not inconsiderable mass of the Library. This fissure in the library volume is closed with folded screens (copper outside, acoustically absorbing perforated wood panels within).

A transparent entrance zone (café, newspaper salon) leads via an information supermarket to the main information desk on the connecting bridge. This in turn is adjacent to book stacks in the ship-like outer volume. The atmosphere is quiet, studious. Books line the outer curved wall, a dramatic stair leads down through a 22 m void to the basement media library, which connects in turn to the courtyard facing children’s library and back up to the entrance zone. Up to four thousand users enter the Münster Library on one day.

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Münster City Library – Update 2010
With a newly painted facade and new automatic check out and 24-hour return automat the Münster City Library in its 18th year remains near the top of the German public library ranking list.

Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior, main entrance, Eingang
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior, Christian Richters
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Julia Cawley, Interior
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Christian Richters, Interior
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Julia Cawley, Exterior, Buchrückgabe
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Interior, meeting room
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Christian Richters, Interior
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Christian Richters, Interior
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, plan, Grundriss, 1. Etage, 1st floor
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, plan, Grundriss, 1. Etage, 1st floor
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior, elevation, Ansicht, Fassade
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior, section, schnitt
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior, section, schnitt
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Exterior, isometry, isometrie
Stadtbücherei Münster, City Library, Isometrie, Exterior
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.

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_Stair_Treppe
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
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_christian richters

Technology Centre

Detail

TYPOLOGY: Office / Laboratory / Conference

COUNTRY: Germany

CITY: Munster

YEAR: 1993

GFA: 16.000 sqm

CLIENT: Technologiehof Münster GmbH

PHOTOS: © Christian Richters

The university zone of Mnster (like most of what we still call cities) is a mixture of isolated large buildings, open space and fragments of small scale, residential patterns. Rather than attempting to stitch together buildings in a coherent or unifying pattern, the Technologiehof accepts its autonomy and in doing so legitimizes the voids between as today’s characteristic urban condition.

The three discrete objects of the Technologiehof also mark an end to the city. To the north are green fields, to the south (bridge side) is the semi-urban campus. Within their precise form the façades are a consequence of this double direction.

Three precise rectilinear forms (unambiguous autonomous objects) are a consequence of the construction system: standardised precast columns, beams, wall and floor panels. The expression of technology is limited to the shiny aluminium skin.

Small, highly serviced, commercially rented laboratories (bio-sensoric research, environment and telecommunications research) flank a middle building with offices and conference facilities. Triangular tapering winter gardens at third floor level provide relief from the absorbing rigour of the working spaces.

technology centre_technologiehof_munster_christian richters
One of three rectilinear forms
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_christian richters
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_christian richters
The bridge
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_plan
Axonometric perspective
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_plan
Figure ground plan
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_plan
Ground floor plan
technology centre_technologiehof_munster_plan
First floor plan and South elevation
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).

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