Aalto Forum
The Heilig Geist Kirche located in Wolfsburg by Alvar Aalto is a jewel of modern architecture. To reactivate this social gathering point I designed a flexible furniture system which follows the radiate axis system of the existing structure. In Phase 0 the furniture hides in the vestibule and allows the building to be used for open events in the evening. During the day the church is open for everyone to enter and pull out a furniture element, labeled by a symbol allowing for different combinations and multiple usability.
front
The front panel is made of diffuse glass creating a homogeneous face especially when all the furniture is stored in the vestibule.
steel frame
The base structure is a white steel frame. It follows the radiate axis design creating a convergent furniture. The large wheels carry the weight and refer to 60s bar trolleys.
covers
The covers are made of open-cell bright wood with chamfered corners. Some elements like the bench can be expanded from the base structure.
rail
Rails are inserted into the new concrete floor layer covering and protecting the original floor. Guiding the furniture when moved the rails also prevent the elements from overturning.
Aalto Forum²
An extension for the Aalto Forum was proposed to show that the designed rail and furniture system can be extended into the outside patio. Likewise to the inside of the church ,adding a new ground layer with radial rail inlays is the most perceptible step of the intervention. Since we use the same furniture elements from the Aalto Forum on the inside the extension is complete. The wooden gates of the church can be opended combining the inside and outside space into one. The proposed elements can now be pushed or pulled outside by the user. Multiplying the combinations of furniture elements interfering and shaping the inside and outside as well as transforming the vestibule into a transfer zone.
Prof. Almut Grüntuch-Ernst / IDAS / Technische Universität Braunschweig / 2020
1st prize WOLFSBURG AWARD for urban vision 2020
