SANAA - The Zollverein School

Under construction
SANAA
Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa
The Zollverein School
Essen, Germany

“The design is like a burst of jazz in the middle of a classical composition.”
Glenn D. Lowry
Director, MoMA

The Zollverein School of Management & Design will be the first new building on the historical coal-mining Zollverein site; declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.

Inauguration July 31, 2006 arcspace feature

Image courtesy the Zollverein School

The design, a cuboid structural shell, picks up the basic functional and effective idea used by the original Zollverein architects Schupp and Kremmer.
The oversized cube, which measures 35 meters by 35 meters and is 35 meters high, reflects the dimensions of the Zollverein mine.
The seemingly coincidental organization of the openings, windows in three different sizes, create an unusual interaction with the surroundings and the interior.

Photo: Thomas Mayer

The building has four floors with ceilings of varying height as well as a roof garden. The idea of stacking open floor plans was developed in compliance with the demands made by the various functions.

Photo: Thomas Mayer

A multi-level presentation hall, exhibition and foyer areas for public use, and a café, are located on the ground floor.
The Design Studios on the second floor will be a production level, home to the creative workplaces.

Photo: Thomas Mayer

The library is on the third floor together with open, glazed seminar rooms as well as several separate, quiet workplaces along the north-east facade.
The fourth floor is the office level, with working areas of various sizes and characters, divided by glass walls.

Photo: Thomas Mayer

Windows in the exterior walls and appropriately distributed lighting will guarantee daylight and visual connections for all workplaces.
The garden on the roof can also be used on a temporary basis, and will serve above all as a viewing platform over the Zollverein World Heritage Center.

The Zollverein School will act as a bridge between teaching, research, and practical implementation in relation to the planned Design Park as the Zollverein grows and prospers as a design location.

Photo: Thomas Mayer

SANAA, Kazuyo Sejima (right) and Ryue Nishizawa, won the international competition in 2002.
The Master Plan for the redevelopment work was designed by Rem Koolhaas (OMA).
The entire infrastructure and design of the industrial landscape, from the pathways via the parking lots and green areas to the drains, are being redesigned by landscape planning office Agence Ter.
One of the most noteworthy innovations being used is a cost-cutting energy concept that will allow the Zollverein School to use the thermal pit water that is still pumped from the ground at the Zollverein as a source of energy.

Site Plan courtesy SANAA

Ground Floor Plan courtesy SANAA

Roof Plan courtesy SANAA

Section courtesy SANAA

Total area: app. 5,000 square meters
Construction start: March 2005

Client: Zollverein School
Architects: SANAA
Project architect: Nicole Berganski
Associate architects: Böll & Krabel
Masterplan: Rem Koolhaas OMA
Landscape: Agence Ter

Zollverein

View the latest arcspace feature:
The Inauguration

Follow the project with Photographer Thomas Mayer.

May 23. 2005

SANAA arcspace features





				Features
		Under construction SANAA Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa The Zollverein School Essen, Germany “The design is like a burst of jazz in the middle of a classical composition.” Glenn D. Lowry Director, MoMA The Zollverein School of Management & Design will be the first new building on the historical coal-mining Zollverein site; declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. Inauguration July 31, 2006 arcspace feature Image courtesy the Zollverein School The design, a cuboid structural shell, picks up the basic functional and effective idea used by the original Zollverein architects Schupp and Kremmer. The oversized cube, which measures 35 meters by 35 meters and is 35 meters high, reflects the dimensions of the Zollverein mine. The seemingly coincidental organization of the openings, windows in three different sizes, create an unusual interaction with the surroundings and the interior. Photo: Thomas Mayer The building has four floors with ceilings of varying height as well as a roof garden. The idea of stacking open floor plans was developed in compliance with the demands made by the various functions. Photo: Thomas Mayer A multi-level presentation hall, exhibition and foyer areas for public use, and a café, are located on the ground floor. The Design Studios on the second floor will be a production level, home to the creative workplaces. Photo: Thomas Mayer The library is on the third floor together with open, glazed seminar rooms as well as several separate, quiet workplaces along the north-east facade. The fourth floor is the office level, with working areas of various sizes and characters, divided by glass walls. Photo: Thomas Mayer Photo: Thomas Mayer Windows in the exterior walls and appropriately distributed lighting will guarantee daylight and visual connections for all workplaces. The garden on the roof can also be used on a temporary basis, and will serve above all as a viewing platform over the Zollverein World Heritage Center. The Zollverein School will act as a bridge between teaching, research, and practical implementation in relation to the planned Design Park as the Zollverein grows and prospers as a design location. Photo: Thomas Mayer SANAA, Kazuyo Sejima (right) and Ryue Nishizawa, won the international competition in 2002. The Master Plan for the redevelopment work was designed by Rem Koolhaas (OMA). The entire infrastructure and design of the industrial landscape, from the pathways via the parking lots and green areas to the drains, are being redesigned by landscape planning office Agence Ter. One of the most noteworthy innovations being used is a cost-cutting energy concept that will allow the Zollverein School to use the thermal pit water that is still pumped from the ground at the Zollverein as a source of energy. Site Plan courtesy SANAA Ground Floor Plan courtesy SANAA Roof Plan courtesy SANAA Section courtesy SANAA Total area: app. 5,000 square meters Construction start: March 2005 Client: Zollverein School Architects: SANAA Project architect: Nicole Berganski Associate architects: Böll & Krabel Masterplan: Rem Koolhaas OMA Landscape: Agence Ter Zollverein View the latest arcspace feature: The Inauguration Follow the project with Photographer Thomas Mayer. May 23. 2005 SANAA arcspace features