Wasserkuppe Arrival & Information Centre | Gersfeld (Rhön)
3rd prize | In collaboration with Sturm und Wartzeck
Basalt is the leitmotif of the design for the new information centre on the Wasserkuppe in Gersfeld. Like the multi-layered formations of the Rhön, the building responds to its surroundings with offset structures and differentiated edges. It connects the heterogeneous existing buildings with the open airfield and creates a central square in the northeast as the new centre of the area. To the south, the building opens up to the vastness of the landscape with terraces and viewing platforms.
The outdoor facilities also take up the basalt motif: staggered terraces follow the natural terrain and become spaces that can be experienced via steps and benches. Materials such as basalt, wood and golden accents create a harmonious unity of architecture and landscape. In the north, lush planting frames the event area, while in the south, an open green strip forms the transition to the gliding field.
© Sturm und Wartzeck, GTL