The “Campus of Religions” is a truly complex task that poses major challenges for planners. The distribution of the university's building mass, set against the small scale and required independence of the houses of worship, creates a certain tension. Our project resolves this with an enclosing bracket. The university is placed as a long building to the north and a gate building to the south; in between, the sacred spaces are grouped facing each other around a plaza. The university buildings close off and protect the Plaza of World Religions, even though the houses of worship themselves want and promote loose cross-connections. In addition to the main cross-route from the Plaza of Cultures to the Seebogen Park to the south, several smaller lanes intensify the path network and the life on campus and strengthen the visual connections to the lake and the park. Directly opposite the public plaza to the south is the gate building, with a two-story cutout passage serving as a generous gateway to the campus and the Plaza of World Religions. It was important to us to create a neutral plaza that is as balanced and equitable as possible. The open space is divided into three sub-areas that are subtly marked by different paving. Each religious community has its own outdoor area with perennial plantings and seating for contemplation and encounter. They are connected to one another by the large central plaza with plenty of green space. The configuration of the area allows for great permeability while maintaining a strong spatial character. Attractive places to spend time and different forms of religious practice, such as processions, find an appropriate setting. Trees provide shade and form a green, permeable canopy over the shared outdoor area. At the center is a large water basin with seating and a roof. The element of water is also staged at the entrance in the form of cooling fountains. The splashing beneath the cantilevered building creates an acoustic curtain that visitors pass through as they enter the campus.
Floor plan 1:200
