Oha Spiralbar

Project

269787

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Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS RISING STARS : concepts or ideas submitted by young talents (aged 30 or less)

Project title

Oha Spiralbar

Full concept/idea title

Description

OHA Baubar? sees itself as an experimental linking of architecture and nature and is intended to serve as a freely accessible place of encounter and cultural exchange in an urban natural space. The Spiral Bar will create space for a bar in an already existing project space of the arts, called Oha Osthang. As a sculpture, the structure will show the symbiosis of natural materials, aesthetics, cycles and building techniques while providing a habitat for various species of animals and plants.

Where is your concept/idea being developed or intended to be implemented in the EU?

Please provide a summary of your concept/ idea

Osthang is a living space and experiment on the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt. It has been an integral part of Darmstadt's cultural scene for 6 years already. As a project space for the arts it offers a platform for interdisciplinary experimentation and reinvention alongside exhibitions, workshops, lectures and events. For over 100 years, Mathildenhöhe has been inextricably linked with the disciplines of architecture, design, art, life reform and innovation. The bundling of sustainable content from precisely these areas, combined with future-oriented technology and reforming approaches, correspond to its further development in the here and now. In the spirit of the historic Mathildenhöhe, experimental and at the same time high-quality small-sclae buildings are to be presented there. OHA Baubar? sees itself as an experimental link between architecture and nature and is intended to be freely accessible in the urban natural space as a place of encounter and cultural exchange. The Spiral Bar will create space for a bar in an already existing project space of the arts, called Oha Osthang. As a sculpture, the structure will show the symbiosis of natural materials, aesthetics, cycles and construction techniques, while providing a habitat for various species of animals and plants. The spiral form not only symbolises the cycle of nature in its shape, but will also take up this cycle as a building with an integrated participative vertical gardening project and an integrated plant purification system. In the sense of cultural and social needs, the Spiral Bar will create access for all to be able to be a place of encounter.  

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of sustainability and how these would be met

Our building will be constructed from rammed earth, a material that has been used for centuries. It is not only a locally-available material, it is also recyclable, i.e. it can be used again and again. The eastern slope is and always has been a place of constant change and transformation. By using this material, our overall concept is reflected in the new construction of the planned building: The new-built structure can be experienced in the long term and will remain perfectly integrated into the site. It leaves no lasting traces in the surrounding nature and closes the natural cycle - following the rules and cycles of the Cradle to Cradle concept. For this reason, a constructed wetland will additionally be integrated to treat the incurring wastewater. In reference to the location in the middle of a tree-rich slope, we plan trees as the focal point of the architecture. On the one hand, this symbolises the protection of the trees being enclosed by the building itself. On the other hand, the protection of the building and the people is reflected by the treetops providing shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. The clay itself can also serve as a parallel diversity site as an insect hotel or bat dwelling - providing shelter not only for humans but also for wildlife.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these would be met

The planned concept clearly stands out from the existing surrounding architecture due to the natural material. It is intended that the organically chosen form, as a homage to the proportio divina (golden section), fits harmoniously into the surrounding nature and shows the viewer that architecture and nature do not have to be in competition with each other, but can complement each other harmoniously. The organic design makes it possible to use and experience the bar, a place of gathering and exchange, on different levels. The special shape of the spiral, a shape that moves away from or closer to the centre depending on the viewer's perspective, makes it possible to take in recurring places of experience and perspectives. These spaces inside and outside the spiral bar can be reached from different viewpoints either via stairs or at ground level. On the roof, the unfolding spiral winds around the included trees, creating a viewing platform with a variety of seating options in the shade of the treetops. Inside the building, the unique sorption capacity of the rammed earth ensures a balanced climate at all times of the year, especially in the hot summer months; during the peak season, this advantage will come into play. The buildings’ natural character, the experimentally chosen materials from the earth and the lively shape of the spiral organically invite visitors to engage with the theme of sustainability.  In concrete terms, the emphasis is not only on natural building materials, but also on forms, patterns and structures based on nature's unique blueprint. Nature is our greatest teacher.  

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of inclusion and how these would be been met

With the planned design of a new bar, we are not only reviving the heart of the East Slope, a place of gathering, meeting and exchange, but also a new possibility for people to look at nature from a new perspective. In this way, a new connection is created in a natural way, in which nature meets man and man meets nature. Not only the social point is an essential part of this project, but also the included nature, especially with the animal world, which gets its space through the creation of consciously designed green spaces. This space is to be made accessible to everyone, in which above all the encounters are in the foreground and thus social exchange is made possible. Diverse perspectives make it possible for everyone to experience the space, whether from above, from below or from the side, because the organic, round shape makes it possible to experience this space in many different ways and does not exclude anyone. Inclusion is an essential component for our project and builds on the liveliness of the place and the people. For it is not only after the process of building the Spiral Bar that it is a meeting place, but also during the building process we achieve a sense of community. Together we create a place for equal togetherness.  

Please explain the innovative character of your concept/ idea

Up to now, natural building materials, especially clay, have not been used very often as building materials in modern industrialised countries. With our project, which has quite a high chance of reaching a wider audience due to our firm involvement in the cultural scene, we would like to draw the attention of visitors to the consideration of alternative building materials. Osthang has always been a place of experimental and interdisciplinary architecture; we have a unique opportunity to make architecture tangible in this well-established place that has been accepted by the public. Our generation also has the responsibility to shape this access in such a way that new ideas and the protection of our environment and resources find their way into the minds of the broad public, the general public, and are no longer just the subject of the academic architecture scene. Here and now we want to use our chance to combine sustainability, design, minimalism and functionality and to inspire the visitors.

Please detail the plans you have for the further development, promotion and/or implementation of your concept/idea, with a particular attention to the initiatives to be taken before May 2022

The construction of our project is planned for summer 2021. Until completion, we will have to cope with the hitherto ongoing operations on a provisional basis, so it is in our interest to start construction as soon as possible. Prior to the experimental construction of the Spiral-Bar, expert discussions with visionaries of alternative sustainable building are planned in order to incorporate an exchange of different perspectives and professions and to let them flow into the design as inspiration. For it should not only be an architecture of visions, but also become feasible and tangible in its implementation. Functionality, practicability and feasibility are just as much the aim as the ideals of a joy of experimentation. It is also planned to work in close contact with the universities (HDA & TUD), where students can be integrated, motivated and inspired. Years of integration and cooperation with various artists and institutions of the arts, such as the Staatstheater Darmstadt, have been and will be fertile ground for our vision. Everyone is welcome to join our project. We are a colourful, interdisciplinary team, motivated to create a place of encounter and visions together, because only together can we shape a future that we find worth living.  

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed concept/idea has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Rising Stars Awards more than once in the same category.