‘Old Town Hall’, Neu-Isenburg
It is impossible to overtake someone if you merely follow in their footsteps.
(Truffaut)
One main problem in this assignment was to give pride of place to the building, which is subject to the preservation of monuments and cultural values, as part of the urban development. Needless to say, its first Evangelical Lutheran schoolhouse was of historic importance to this former Huguenot settlement. The challenge was addressed by inserting a glass-ceilinged hall between the schoolhouse and the former town hall, thus highlighting the dimensions and contours of the historic fabric. At the same time, the half-barrel glass-ceilinged roof communicates between the various roof forms in its own individual way, and, by means of the caesura, leaves one in no doubt about its utilisation as a gallery building in the public street space.
In addition to a spatial concept, the invitation to tender called for an appropriate function and utilisation (no specifications).
Once the decision was made as to who was awarded the assignment, the project was to be realised by a private investor and was consequently revised several times in the interests of more profit-oriented operation. The historic ‘Old Town Hall’ and two chestnut trees fell victim to this reworking.
Following consultation with the heritage authorities, only a reconstructed façade remained of the historic town hall. The main design element, the glass hall which shed light on the historic dimension, was retained, and is used by the public utility services company.
It is absolutely imperative that in parallel with an invitation to tender the utilisation concept is clearly defined.
