Teaching, Learning and Examination Centre Medicum of the Goethe-University

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Photo © Markus Guhl for wulf architekten

Universities

Architects: wulf architekten

Location: Haus 10A, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Year: 2017
Client: Land Hessen, Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst Vertreten durch Hessisches Baumanagement (HBM) Regionalniederlassung Rhein-Main
Team: Katrin Müller (PL), Patric Kuhn
Local construction management: Burkhard Meyer Architekt, Karlsruhe
Structure planning: Weischede, Hermann und Partner, Stuttgart
Landscape design: Adler & Olesch Mainz GmbH, Mainz
Building physics: Pfeil & Koch Ingenieurgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart

With its reddish-coloured exposed concrete facade, the new building responds to the historical context of the medical faculty from the Wilhelminian era. Nevertheless, it can be recognized as a contemporary house. The window elements are set into deep reveals and have a translucent sun protection box in the middle.

The new building of the Medicum is located on the grounds of the University Hospital Frankfurt in close proximity to the Main. Its surroundings are characterised by historical neighbouring buildings and the rose garden on the north side. Green areas of the surrounding buildings adjoin on the south side. Our design consists of two cubes of different heights, which form a clearly recognizable entrance area due to their offset on the facade to the rose garden.

The challenge for us was to insert the relatively large building volume into a small plot of land: The structure consists of two parts of different heights and depths, which are arranged offset from one another and interlock. The examination room for approx. 200 persons on the garden side is located in the basement and is oriented towards an adjoining spacious deep courtyard. The seminar rooms are located on the ground floor, the teaching, learning and administrative areas are on the upper floors.