ercan coban + ONZ architects envision cultural complex

ercan coban architects + ONZ architects envision cultural complex in kaliningrad
all images courtesy of ONZ architects + ercan coban architects

with the idea of the köningsberg castle being a historical value that should be preserved, ONZ architects and ercan coban architects have envisioned a design for the governmental historic and cultural complex in kaliningrad competition. the project called ‘rising over the traces of history’ is a perfect representation of the past meeting the contemporary, wishing to protect the castle walls and integrate them into the daily life of the complex. to do so, platforms were designed within the historical courtyard, creating a new topography for its new functions. the museum and display spaces render the castle walls as a part of the exhibition, reflecting the traces of history.

video courtesy of ONZ Architects

rising over the historical köningsberg courtyard, the white box located above the platforms includes the conference center, the library, mediatheque and the restaurant, providing a new landmark for the city of kaliningrad with its dynamic form. this dynamism is also reflected inside of the mass with open spaces on different levels flowing into each other.

an eye-shaped opening highlights the entrance, giving it a more spacious perception that invites the people inside

none of the main functions are contained within four walls, thus creating a spacious and flexible interior. the programmatic division enables the spaces that require less light such as museum and exhibition spaces to be located in the historical courtyard, and versatility requiring spaces to be housed above ground on the artificial landscape of the white box.

the landscaping of the site is designed so that the green texture from the adjacent park infiltrates the courtyard

on the main entrance the curvature of the topography mirrors the bottom form of the landmark building defined by the natural slope of the conference center. an eye-shaped opening is created, highlighting the entrance, giving it a more spacious perception and instinctively invites the visitors inside. the landscaping of the site is designed so that the green texture coming from the adjacent park infiltrates right into the historical courtyard. the white landmark building is rotated on purpose on the northeast-southwest direction to orient the building to the square on the north of house of soviets, the fan-zone and the archeological park on the south, adding more emphasis to the historic location.

on the main entrance the curvature of the topography mirrors the bottom form of the landmark

the cultural space includes a concert hall

axonometric plan

floor plans

section

project info:

design team: ercan çoban – onat öktem – ekin çoban turhan – zeynep öktem – ece durmaz

project team: figen yücel – nilüfer yaşacan – esat can meker – alper karesioğlu – eren güney

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edited by: juliana neira | designboom