Berlin architects Ralf Fleckenstein and Katharina Feldhusen of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] in collaboration with Martina Wronna have completed a new public library in Luckenwalde, Germany.

The project involved the conversion of a former railway station into
a public library and includes an extension to the existing building
that houses the children’s library.

The inclined walls of this annex are clad in shingles made of a copper-aluminium alloy.

Photos by Andreas Meichsner.
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Luckenwalde Town Library (D)
MEDIA WORLDS IN A GOLDEN TOWER
As part of extensive renovations and the modernisation of a former
railway station in the German town of Luckenwalde in the state of
Brandenburg – about 50 km to the south of Berlin –, an annex was
incorporated into the existing buildings. The project has set a
striking example, not only from a town planning point of view. Behind
the glittering TECU® Gold façade are the children’s and youths’
sections of the buildings that are now used as the town library. In
view of the problems in the built-up surroundings of the complex, the
shape and design of the façade challenges people to consider the
potential town development has for change – and, above all, they offer
the younger generation an inviting, lively and modern town library.

Luckenwalde is just 30 minutes by train from the centre of Berlin.
This close connection to the capital city through the
Berlin-Leipzig-Dresden railway line was a result of the dynamic
economic developments taking place in the region at the end of the 19th
and start of the 20th centuries. Back then, many companies, mainly in
the textile industry, chose to settle in Luckenwalde. A well-known
architectural heritage of this glorious past is the hat factory built
by Erich Mendelsohn between 1921 and 1923.

Numerous innovative residential building projects also contributed
to the town’s fame in the Golden Twenties. These days, Luckenwalde is
just one of the many small towns in East Germany’s numerous weak
structural regions that have had to combat the known problems of a
declining population coupled with growing unemployment and a lack of
perspective since the former GDR was reunited with the Federal Republic
of Germany. Accordingly, the townscape is characterised by numerous
projects for the demolition of empty buildings.

Difficult conditions for new impulses – at least they would have
been if Luckenwalde had not been included in the European Union’s URBAN
sponsorship programme – the only small German town to participate. The
resources that were made available allowed the capable local
government, in collaboration with powerful political decision-makers,
to implement many projects in the town. The conversion of the
heritage-protected railway building into the town library was the
largest of these URBAN projects. The popularity of this project also
stimulated the flow of further development funds from the state and
national governments.

Before conversion work began, the severe deterioration caused by the
building standing empty for so long – known from many similar
situations – had made its mark on the local environment. In other
words, from a town planning perspective, the aim was not only to rescue
a heritage-protected building, but also to reinvigorate a central
public location in the town. Consequently, a decision was made to move
the town library, which was located in a cramped, rather unattractive
building, into the former railway station.

The renovation of the building and conversion to the town library
was carried out by the architect team ARGE WFF in Berlin, who won the
competition. The new annex containing the children’s and youths’
library created a self-confident landmark, like a logical conclusion to
the successful renovation work that had gone before in the entire group
of buildings. The structural shell, which is tilted on two axes and
clad completely with glimmering TECU® Gold Shingles, creates a new
spatial situation on the station square with an impressive presence
that can be seen from the neighbouring Käthe-Kollwitz-Strasse that
connects the station with the town centre. The annex is a conspicuous
indication of the new function of the former railway station: it stands
in the town’s public area like an over-dimensioned showcase.

According to the architects’ plans, right from the outset the annex
was to be realised as an abstract sculpture. The façade was to be a
homogeneous surface that would support this abstraction and create an
aesthetic relationship to the façade of the renovated old building. The
TECU® Gold Shingles, made of a copper-aluminium alloy produced by KME,
proved to be the ideal solution for the complete cladding. In spite of
the marked contrast to the old building, the sensuous value of the
material is a perfect complement to its solidity. A very important
aspect of the façade material – besides its durability and economy – is
its ability to create different appearances depending on the light and
the weather. Because of the reflecting surface and the varying
inclinations of the building, completely different atmospheres and
moods are created at different times of the day. The continuous
weathering of the material has a similar effect: as time passes the
surfaces will change in various ways depending on the angle; in other
words, the building will develop a very individual and lively façade.
One important aim of the structure of the metal façade was to cover
the inclined building with a continuous, homogeneous and sharp edged
cladding without seeming to give the cubic content any particular
order. The scale-like shingle cladding wraps consistently around the
corners of the building, changing the arrangement of its angles on
every side of the façade without maintaining one single direction due
to the geometry of the tilted surfaces. The glass openings follow the
same logic: they are not planned as openings, but rather as a
continuation of the cladding. Flush to the outside with the shingle
cladding, they sit on the surface, adjoining the edges of the building.
The bearing construction is concealed by golden ESG panes on granulated
glass sheets, while some of the insulation glazing absorbs the golden
colour with an internal gold-coloured metal mesh.
An important requirement for appropriate use of the new library was
constructional independence that did not exist previously due to the
railway building’s connection with the railway embankment. The
demolition of the connecting annexes created a new runway to the
railway platforms and, consequently, an autonomous position for the
library. The rooms that were renovated in keeping with
heritage-protection requirements are now used as a traditional library;
the former station concourse is now the central area of the library.
Racks contain the latest magazines, there are subject-related book
tables and a cafe bar – references to the original use of the
concourse, which can also seat up to 100 people for events whenever
required. The core areas of the library are matched up to the previous
ambience of the building’s waiting rooms: the former first class
waiting room with its tasteful interior now houses the fiction section
with spacious reading areas, while the talking books can be found in
the so-called Kaisersalon or Emperor’s Lounge. In the third and fourth
class waiting rooms a large staircase leads to a recessed gallery,
creating a link to the books upstairs.
The annex for children’s and young people’s books creates special
interior spaces that break away from the orthogonal structural
principle of the railway building - just like the younger generation
breaks away from the cosiness of the home. The children’s library on
the ground floor offers open reading and play areas, the youth library
upstairs, however, is more of an introverted place. With a design
reminiscent of a modern lounge, it consciously distances itself from
the rest of the library’s spatial structure and invites visitors to use
the available media individually. Young people need have no fear that
they will disturb other more peaceful areas of the library.
Accordingly, the youth library on the top floor also joins the
audio-visual media area: music, films and CD ROMs can be viewed and
listened to here or can be borrowed to take home.
Since the festive opening in July 2008, the vital function that the
new library has for Luckenwalde has become increasingly evident. The
number of users and the amount of media that are borrowed have both
increased continuously; the available computer terminals are occupied
almost constantly. An association of friends and sponsors supports the
library’s work: groups of pupils work voluntarily in the library after
school. Contrary to the scepticism expressed in advance of the project,
the facility is now widely accepted. Because of this enormous success,
Luckenwalde now serves as a model project in the URBAN town development
sponsorship programme in Brussels.
Building project: Luckenwalde Town Library
Planning and implementation: ARGE WFF:
Martina Wronna (Raumbewegung, Berlin)
Katharina Feldhusen (FF Architekten, Berlin)
Ralf Fleckenstein (FF Architekten, Berlin)
Contributors: S. Brock,
R. Jozwiak
B. Köhler
H. v. Knobelsdorff
K. Weber
Building supervision/tenders: Stephan Holtz, Berlin
Project management: F. Fischer, IB Happold, Berlin
Supporting structure: ibs, Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten
Façade construction: Klempnerei Neß, Berlin
Façade material: TECU® Gold
Manufacturer: KME Germany AG & Co.
Electrical and data technology: IB Müller, Luckenwalde
Heating/plumbing: IB Voigtländer, Luckenwalde
Owner: Luckenwalde
User: Luckenwalde town library
Floor space 950 m²
Total cost, including fit-out: EUR 3.7 million

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Posted by Rose Etherington from dezeen.com