max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller
all images courtesy of max dudler

 

 

 

german practice max dudler has recently completed the sparrenburg visitor center at the historical medieval fortress in bielefeld, germany. the fortress, marked by years of weathering and war, now contains a 37 foot tall tower, an outbuilding, a gatehouse and the original bailey, with outstanding views of the city below. the visitor center takes a very calculated position amongst the surrounding structures, located in such a way that restores the visual clarity of the existing buildings’ location within the outer walls. instead of replicating or even contrasting the current buildings which range from original constructions to more recently rebuilt constructs following world war II, max dudler instead took the stance of acknowledging the site’s constantly changing history by erecting a small building that writes a new chapter in the story of the sparrenburg fortress. 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
entrance to the fortress
image © stefan müller

 

 

 
the visitor center is a standalone structure spaced away from the gatehouse, forming two paths on either side- one for visitors and the other for staff. it also creates a new threshold for entering the bailey, greeting people with information before entering the historic structure. the construction consisted of an obvious modern design, using rammed concrete in layers that expose the intricacies of each pour and the craftsmanship that formed them- details that are also present in the adjacent structures but rendered in a style of their own vernacular. in this way, the new building fits appropriately into the bailey as the next generation of architecture added to the historical fortress.

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
view from the fortress gardens
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
the new structure contrasts the existing stone buildings
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
the modern design
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
front entrance to the visitor center facing the open bailey
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
interior with exposed concrete walls and embedded wooden fixtures
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
small kitchenette
image © stefan müller

 

 

max dudler writes new history with the sparrenburg visitor center
image © stefan müller

 

 

 

drawings

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project info:

 

 

project title: sparrenburg visitor centre
location: bielefeld
client: city of bielefeld, represented by immobilienservicebetrieb (isb)
occupant: city of bielefeld, bielefeld marketing gmbh
usable floor area: 78.55 m2
gross floor area: 135.70 m2
gross building volume: 728.71 m3
planning period: may 2013 to november 2013
construction period: november 2013 to september 2014
architecture: max dudler
leading architect/project manager: simone boldrin
co-workers: kilian teckemeier, thomas back
construction supervision: architektenbüro stüwe, bielefeld for büro max dudler
structural engineers: prinz & pott gmbh, bielefeld
mep: martell ingenieurbüro, bielefeld
photographer: stefan müller