zauberscho(e)n: the horse on the ceiling

the horse on the ceiling by zauberscho(e)n all photos by roland borgmann

zauberscho(e)n is a team of architecture students from the muenster school of architecture, germany, who have sent images of their latest project ‘the horse on the ceiling’ – a library for architecture, art and design on the leonardo campus. the book inventories of all three institutions are merged in a library and stand behind walls of the former horse stables.

the library is framed by a glass facade, whose large-sized glass panels are reinforced by glass fins. the space is divided into three parts and offers different working atmospheres to students. up front the facade developes into three study-carrels for an undisturbed learning, in the rear stands a large table for groups, separated as required through an acoustic curtain. as a transformable element it can form an individual zone or open up a larger area. the outside is printed with a digitally generated motive on the basis of the ‘school of athens’ by raphael.

at the rear of the building the wing-like roof rests on three columns. the form is based on the movement of a horses leg.

rainwater is collected in a section in front of the building and returned into the ground. a gap of light illuminates the new and old roof between the historic stable wall.