Parascape

Architectural education is happening through discussions, so the design of the new architecture school in Stuttgart is based on its perception as a place for the exchange of ideas, placed around a central communication space which acts as foyer, exhibition space, cafe and studio space. All routes through the building are crossing here to make people meet. Students are working on their laptops, lecturers are enjoying their coffee break and guests are visiting the exhibition. Presentations are happening in the surrounding spaces visible by all, and both students and teachers find others for discussions or to ask a question.

Also the public is integrated into the architectural interaction: Pathways across the roof are accessible 24 hours, connecting the surrounding areas of the city. The roof is therefore stretching down in some areas and reaching up in others to create space underneath. The geometry of the roof has been generated through an iterative process according to the internal and external circulations. The resulting roof garden is made accessible via a network of Stäffele, the stepped pathways which are typical for Stuttgart’s urbanism.

The areas of the green roof landscape have different functions according to their inclination, degree of privacy and geographical orientation. The pathways are crossing in a central square with cafe and bookshop, other areas are used for technical experiments, PV cells, an auditorium and general leisure. The transparent building allows visual connections from each area into the others, and passersby can watch the presentations and work of the school inside. The large windows are constructed as showcases, housing constantly changing displays of the student’s work.