ASTOC: casino at a research center

‘casino at a research center’ by ASTOC cologne, germanyimage © christa lachenmaier, cologne

german architecture practice ASTOC has completed ‘casino at a research center’, a single-story addition providing dining services, kitchen facilities and a large event hall for a research campus in cologne, germany. capable of serving 700 meals per day for employees of the seven institution buildings distributed throughout the contained grounds, the internal arrangement wraps around an open courtyard offering views to the surrounding wooded landscape. floor to ceiling glass windows with unobstructed corners bound the lunch room while picnic style tables are arranged under a covered terrace for an outdoor experience inside and outside.

elevation image © christa lachenmaier, cologne

the original concrete facade from the 1970s was repaired and extended with replicated pigmented concrete slabs. the textured detailing of the impressions created by the wooden formworks compliment the clean and polished interior surfaces. an accessible elevated terrace and green roof providing overhead perspectives of the campus.

open courtyard image © christa lachenmaier, cologne

glass corners image © christa lachenmaier, cologne

continuous skylight and windows generate a connection with the outdoors image © christa lachenmaier, cologne

dining area image © christa lachenmaier, cologne

illuminated at dusk image © christa lachenmaier, cologne

project info:

client: research center, cologne planning and realisation: planning 2008-2009 realization 2009-2011 dimensions gfa: 6.500 sqm employees: ruth bünker, frank grätz, thorsten salmen, michael rosemann, magdalena schaller, bernd schumann