Competition: Margravial Palace, Karlsruhe
Urban Design
The historic central section, with its concave curved main façade, faces Rondellplatz. The new side wings connect to the central section and continue the existing street alignments on either side. As a whole, the building integrates into the urban fabric in accordance with the historic design.
The building forms a distinct termination at Karl-Friedrich-Straße and relates to the scale of the neighbouring buildings on Markgrafenstraße.
Circulation
The central section continues to serve as the building’s main entrance. The representative functions are accessed via the central, multi-storey passage, which also provides orientation within the building. This multi-storey intermediate space creates an atmospheric spatial experience and invites visitors to stay, meet, and exchange ideas.
The newly interpreted secondary entrances in the side wings provide access to the commercial spaces and the apartments on the upper floors. PSD Bank employees and deliveries have separate entrances at ground-floor level.
The modern interpretation of the open staircase in the central section forms the representative access route to the civic and event spaces on the first floor. In addition to connecting to the commercial spaces, the staircases at the secondary entrances in the side wings provide access to the apartments on the uppermost floors. The apartments, with views over the city or the garden to the rear, are reached on each floor via access galleries.
Heritage
F. Weinbrenner’s original design is reconstructed and reinterpreted in a contemporary form. The façade is monochromatic, featuring a light, sand-coloured tone. The windows correspond to the historic design. In place of the former gates in the side wings, entrances to the passage are created, and the historic ground-floor level is restored.
The historic open staircase in the central section is redesigned in a contemporary form.
