CONCEPT
The new architecture of the Bavarian History Museum on the banks of the Danube in Regensburg serves as a distinctive platform for the Museum collection, which ranges from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. A curving sculptural form of basket-weave symbolizes the Museumís vision, and evokes the artifacts in the Museumís collection. The soft, irregular waves of the Danube are invoked in the constructionís undulating facade.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
URBAN CONSTRUCTION / CITY PLAN
The urban restructuring of the south bank of the Danube is intended to include upper and lower levels along the Donaupromenade. The new museum construction closes the space between existing buildings on the entire length of the promenade. It clearly delimits the upper level of the Promenade and enframes Hunnenplatz. The new construction of the Bavariathek coherently joins the remaining perimeter block development in the Trunzerquartier. The Museum Annex connects the Br¸chnerquartier again to the existing complex. The original structure of streets will be reconstructed.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
OPEN SPACE
Along Donaumarkt ñ the upper Promenade ñ suggested boulevards will be incorporated and supplemented with benches. The weekly market (Wochenmarkt) has ample space along the Danube, and can extend onto Hunnenplatz. The area is made vibrant by a dynamic dispersal of street furniture. A sheltered passageway connects both places, and the common cobblestone paving that covers the entire open area demolishes any separation between the street and pedestrian sidewalk, creating a versatile, multi-functional zone. The entrances to the Museum and restaurant lie along the passageway, and invite passersby with their attractive interior furnishings.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
BUILDING STRUCTURE
The specifications of the competition will be carried out in three main structures. The Museum extends over the banks of the Danube. The Bavariathek lies attractively on Hunnenplatz. The Annex is fully accessible from Klostermeyergasse. The division into three separate but interconnected structures generates a clear corporate address for each building. The Bavariathek is a self-contained structure next to the Museum. The Annex can be optimized for storage and technical capabilities without disruptions to the operations of the Museum itself. This solution leaves the Museum building largely free of auxiliary functions such as technical rooms, additional fire escapes, and so forth. This frees up room for multi-functional, flexible, large and continuous spaces.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
MUSEUM
The new construction of the Bavarian History Museum is composed within the spaces of the basket-weave sculpture and under the sculpture itself. Visitors enter the foyer between Hunnenplatz and Donaumarkt. Under the sculpture, a fascinating room emerges. Lying along the banks of the Danube, the room looks out onto a view of the market, and spans from 5 to over 6 meters high. This hidden gem within the Museum, which houses the Museumís permanent collection within the sculpture, is deliberately meant to provoke the visitorsí curiosity, and its architectural concealment adds to the thrill of the visit. The foyer is generously proportioned, and serves as a space of encounter for special exhibitions and conferences. It accommodates the museum shop, the ticketing and information counters, and evenly apportions the visitor stream. The area for special exhibitions and conferences, which will undergo frequent reconstruction, is housed on the east end of the foyer, near the Annex. The Museumís Education Services (Museumsp‰dagogik) lies on a mezzanine, beneath which are the restrooms and coat check area. In the evenings, the ground floor can be used for events independent of the Museumís other functions.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
The ticketing counters are located directly within the main entrance, where the staircase that leads to the permanent exhibition is also situated. Across an interstice one enters the basket sculpture in the upper level. The exhibition begins with Bavarian traditions, a welcome to Bavaria. This is followed by an account of the history of Bavaria from 1800 to 1900. Accompanying this historical account, the space ascends imperceptibly, and the height of the ceiling increases. An architectural point of inflexion meets a historical turning point, the beginning of the 1900s. At this point, the space ascends, again indiscernibly, until visitors arrive at Bavariaís present, where the Bavarian sky greets them at the conclusion of the exhibition, and the exhibition ends with the highlight of the view over the rooftops of Regensburg and of the Cathedral. Here, access to the rooftop terrace, and open air exhibitions, is possible. The round tour within the Museum connects the different historical epochs and provides a stunning view of the Danube. The entire permanent exhibition is designed as a coherent, functionally flexible, and versatile space. The slight acclivity of 2.4 % is barely perceptible; yet, it creates a difference of almost three meters across the entire length of the exhibition. From the highest point of the permanent exhibition a cascading staircase leads visitors back into the Foyer and the museum shop.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
The Restaurant across from the Museum entrance will attract museumgoers as well as other visitors. Situated at the bridge head, the upper part of the slightly elevated dining hall floats above the space. A wide range variety of activities are possible on Hunnenplatz and the Donaumarkt when the weather permits. We anticipate a multifaceted and vibrant space for the Museum, Bavariathek and Donaupromenaden.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
FACADE
The Museumís facade is constructed with intertwined metal bars. Vertical stakes and horizontal braided rods produce a jointless meshwork encasing the entire structure, including all the corners and edges. The plaited structure recalls a basket in the exhibitionís collection, and alludes to the Danube with its soft and irregular waves. The color scheme of the Museumís exterior is adapted to the landscape of rooftops in Regensburg. Thus the Museum demonstrates its distinctive functions without appearing as a foreign object within the landscape.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
BAVARIATHEK
Visitors enter the Bavariathek directly from Hunnenplatz. The publicly accessible section lies on the ground floor. All the rooms are oriented towards the exterior, and grouped around the interior courtyard. The Library and Archive lie directly above. Administrative offices and a bright atrium comprise two higher floors. From the exterior, the Bavariathek apears as a stand-alone address with a distinctively modern facade. Its affiliation is shown through the perimeter block development and at the same time through a link to the Museum.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
ANNEX
Trucks can access the Annex via Klostermeyergasse. The partially covered space between the Annex and the Museum serves as a temporary storage site for containers, bicycles, and so forth, and can also be transformed into a space for the Museumís open air exhibitions. Storage and delivery areas are accommodated on the ground floor. Staff facilities and additional storage areas are on the second floor, which is connected by a bridge to the Museum. The technical rooms are situated both above and below this floor, and are optimally connected to the Museum by the bridge. The exterior design of the Annex will subtly harmonize with the plaster facades in the vicinity.
© Architekturbüro 1 . Published on May 14, 2013.
EMERGENCY EXITS
The concept behind the emergency exits is surprisingly simple. On the ground floor a short route leads directly into the open. For the upper floors, each of the three buildings has two emergency stairwells. These lie on the eastern end of the Bavariathek and in the Annex. The Museum is directly connected by three bridges (respectively 8.05m, 8.75m and 9.30m high). Another bridge (3.5m) connects the entrance to the exhibition to the mezzanine.