17-04-2012

A harmonious addition: Keltenmuseum in Glauburg

kadawittfeldarchitektur,

Werner Huthmacher,

Award, Prize,

abstract



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A harmonious addition: Keltenmuseum in Glauburg
Presenting unique archaeological artefacts in a building constructed for the purpose, without interfering with its surroundings, was the mission of German architectural studio kadawittfeldarchitektur. Their response is a monolithic building, a mysterious treasure chest in harmony with the landscape.

The plateau in Wetterau in the centre of Germany's Hesse region was an important crossroads of different peoples for centuries. When archaeological excavations began in Glauburg in the middle of the last century, no-one could have imagined that between 1994 and 2000 one of the biggest settlements of Celtic civilisation in Europe would be found, complete with princely tombs containing funerary accoutrements and a place of worship, all in an area measuring about 20 hectares: a unique site in human history.

In order to exhibit the artefacts and present the place to the public, the government of the federal state of Hesse held a competition in 2006, won by the German architectural studio kadawittfeldarchitektur (Aachen), completed last year.

The Celtic museum is part of a park called “Keltenwelt” (“Celtic World”) which also includes an itinerary through the area in discovery of the Celts’ places of worship.

The museum building is located on the upper part of the hill, occupying very little land as it is built with an overhanging shape, creating a large panoramic window on the first floor from which to observe the reconstructed tomb marking the start and end point of the tour.

The roof plays a similar role, putting visitors in contact with the earth and the sky. This open space is intended to help visitors discover the Celtic peoples’ deep bond with the rhythm of nature through all the senses.

The Celts’ expert craftsmanship is represented in the cladding of the façade, made of big slabs of corten steel (in a ventilated façade construction requiring very little maintenance), an allusion to the Celts’ great metalworking tradition. The rear wall is made of concrete, and there are no supporting pillars in the interior, permitting optimal exhibition layout.

The museum not only fits harmoniously into the landscape, becoming an integral part of it, but demonstrates respect for the environment thanks to its compact construction, permitted by the building’s covering, use of recycled materials, thermal glass, a “CO2 neutral” pellet heating system and highly efficient ventilation system with heat recovery.

Anyone can now experience the draw of this ancient people surrounded by their world at Glauburg Celtic Museum.


Design: kadawittfeldarchitektur, http://www.kadawittfeldarchitektur.de/
Client: German federal state of Hesse
Year: 2011, competition 2006
Location: Glauburg, Germany
Photos: Werner Huthmacher, Berlin, http://www.werner-huthmacher.de/
Awards: 2011 prize for outstanding buildings in Hesse
Museum link: http://www.keltenwelt-glauberg.de/


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