david chipperfield architects restores former monastery for the 'jacoby studios'

david chipperfield architects has turned a former hospital in western germany into the new headquarters of a family-run company. situated in the medieval town center of paderborn, the site’s previously existing ensemble originated from a former 17th century capuchin monastery. as the buildings were severely damaged during the second world war, the complex underwent several changes and extensions through reconstruction and later modifications.

main entrance, historic chapel façade | image © simon menges (also main image)

david chipperfield architects’ conversion of the site for tap holding involved removing these post-war additions to expose the monastery’s historic building fabric. the distinctive chapel façade, the cloister, the east building wing, and the 17th century cellar have all been preserved and restored to create the ‘jacoby studios’. this ensemble, embedded into a garden designed by wirtz international, results in a ruin structure made of quarry-stone masonry.

internal courtyard with cloister | image © simon menges

through the historic entrance gate and the former chapel, visitors access the entrance foyer with its exposed brick walls. meanwhile, new extension wings, ranging from two to three-storeys, are arranged in accordance with the orthogonal structure to the north, west, and south of the original buildings. in addition to offices, the complex also includes a photography studio, a showroom, and a staff canteen.

foyer | image © simon menges

‘rooted in an appreciation of its complex historical context, the ‘jacoby studios’ create a new urbanistic whole out of fragments,’ explains david chipperfield. ‘the project combines a wide range of the practice’s experience — reinterpreting historic buildings, combining the old with the new, balancing landscape and building — to provide a comfortable and stimulating workplace. thanks to a highly engaged and committed client, it has been a very enjoyable process and has become an emblematic project for us.’ see other projects by chipperfield’s firm on designboom here.

new wings in urban context | image © simon menges

main façade, prior to construction, 2014 | image © david chipperfield architects

main façade, historic fabric exposed, 2017 | image © ute zscharnt for david chipperfield architects

internal courtyard, prior to construction, 2014 | image © david chipperfield architects

internal courtyard, historic fabric exposed, 2017 | image © david chipperfield architects

east wing, prior to construction, 2013 | image © david chipperfield architects

east wing, historic fabric exposed, 2017 | image © david chipperfield architects

east wing, after completion, 2020 | image © david chipperfield architects

1/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

name: jacoby studios
location: paderborn, germany
project start: 2014
construction start: 2017
completion: 2002
gross floor area: 12,500 sqm / 134,549 sqf
client: jacoby GbR represented by ellen jacoby, franz jacoby, yvonne jacoby

architect: david chipperfield architects berlin
partners: david chipperfield, martin reichert, alexander schwarz (design lead)
project architects: franziska rusch (concept study), frithjof kahl (preparation and brief to developed design, design intent details, site design supervision)
project team: thomas benk, thea cheret, dirk gschwind, elsa pandozi, franziska rusch, diana schaffrannek, eva-maria stadelmann, amelie wegner; graphics, visualisation: dalia liksaite

in collaboration with —
construction documentation, executive architect: schilling architekten, cologne, jochem vieren (project management), michael zinnkann (construction management)
landscape architect: wirtz international nv, schoten, peter wirtz, jan grauwels
structural engineer: gantert + wiemeler ingenieurplanung, münster
services engineer, lighting consultant: köster planung GmbH, münster
building physics, acoustics: hansen ingenieure, münster
fire consultant: HHP west beratende ingenieure GmbH, bielefeld