Dynamic Meeting Place
Refectory, University Campus Erfurt
Competition success: New centerpiece for the university campus – the new energy-efficient, highly flexible, and aesthetically ambitious refectory is a place for encounters, events, and a very good meal.
The objective of the modern and multifunctional new building is to restore the ageing refectory of the University of Erfurt to its role as the dynamic heart of the campus. Besides catering to the needs of the 6,000 students and campus staff in a sustainable way, the main focus of the client and operator, Studierendenwerk Thüringen, was maximum flexibility. The refectory is also a communicative meeting point and should be used for events, activities, and exhibitions. The team from ATP Nuremberg was announced as the winner of the official tender process.
The objectives of the design were to achieve a high architectural and aesthetic standard, to create a sustainable and low-maintenance interior, and to integrate student art.
Stefan Fertl
Head of Design in Nuremberg
Focus on sustainability
Comprehensive measures in the areas of energy efficiency, material selection, water and waste management, and interior climate contribute to minimizing the building’s ecological footprint while creating a healthy and pleasant user environment. PV plant on the green water retention roof contributes to the generation of renewable energy. High-quality insulating materials in the walls, roofs, and floorplates minimize heat loss and increase energy efficiency. Our choice of building materials paid close attention to sustainability. We used as little concrete as possible. The kitchen volume proposed in the competition design is a timber structure, while the slabs and roof are designed as composite concrete-timber elements. The chosen materials are not only sustainable but also long-lasting and low-maintenance, which will extend the life of the building and minimize maintenance costs.
Architectural eyecatcher
The project envisages a wide-spanning roof that visually combines the various functional areas and creates open spaces that are protected from the weather. Generous areas of glazing allow large amounts of daylight to enter, while artistic recesses create a dynamic facade. The slatted timber facade of the kitchen block lends the space a warm atmosphere.
A strip of perforated steel elements in the upper part of the building volume protects the interior from overheating. This follows the geometry of the roof and acts as fixed solar protection. The pattern is inspired by the flowers of the woad plant, which were traditionally used in the production of the famous Erfurter Blau ceramics.
Flexible interior design
Open and flexible refectory and cafeteria spaces stretch out between and alongside the entrance area and the timber kitchen block. The recessed facade creates generous seating areas both inside and outside the building. The administrative unit developed in the competition project can be added as an extra volume above the entrance area. And the office area can be doubled if required by creating a similar volume above the kitchen.
