Alfred Wegener Institute,
Bremerhaven

Project data:

Building Owner: Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI), Bremerhaven Beauftragung nach Verhandlungsverfahren

On the opposite harbour side of the AWI campus at the commercial port, a Technical Center for technical development work and preparations for expedition is to be built. The design by kister scheithauer gross architekten und stadtplaner, who have already realised parts of the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, was awarded the commission in a tender procedure. The ground-breaking ceremony is expected to take place at the beginning of 2018, completion is scheduled for 2020. The approximately 60-metre long and 44-metre wide new building along the canal and marina reacts to its surroundings with clear edges and an elongated, folded façade connecting to the existing warehouse. “We wanted to create a rather “closed” appearance of the institute facing the water side, leaving scope for further developments in the block,” explains Kister. The glass façade on the ground floor provides insights into the scientific operations as an “open workshop”. The closed parts of the façade are faced with dark brown bricks and refer to the materiality of the surroundings. The different building parts form a design entity so that the institute can be perceived as a large sculpture.