Diploma Thesis "Media House"

The task was to create a media-centre with a mixed space-programme for different kinds of functional areas to host the local events. The place for the centre was a long and narrow estate at a hectic, cruised street on the verge of the old part of Mainz/Germany. An important part of the task was to integrate the building into the context of the historical elements of the old part of Mainz, the old city wall and the ancient Holzturm ("Wooden Tower"). The building was to combine work & event areas with flats for the staff of the centre and the students of architecture.
The space programme in detail:
- local newspaper editorial department
- local radio station
- foyer for up to 150 people
- small hall for experimental theatre and cinema
- restaurant
- cafe
- a diversity of shops
- flats for the staff of the centre
- flats for architecture students & disabled persons
- big workspace for the architecture students
- small modelling studio
- subterranean garage

Last but not least we had to design the undeveloped areas. These we should plan at an appropriate ratio to the developed area of the object.

Design Idea

The design concept consists of two important criteria:
- a radical separation of the work and the event areas (media centre) and the flats (living complex) in two separate buildings
- stylistic emphasis of the media centre to the living complex by a dynamic architecture,
because informations are very fast in context to their timeliness. My intention was to represent this stylistically through the architecture of the media centre, especially by the form of its front.