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The conversion of the listed former Rheinstahl warehouse (Emil Fahrenkamp, 1923) into a multifunctional event hall necessitates the addition of new structures: a foyer, storage rooms, technical equipment and sanitary facilities. In order to preserve the spatial integrity of the remarkable timber structure hall, these functions are housed in newly constructed front and rear extensions, that visually appear as a continuous volume interrupted by the existing building. This separation is emphasized on both sides by a glass joint, providing uniform illumination to the historic former exterior façade and serving as a clear interface between the old and new structures. The connection of the two extensions’ sawtooth roof construction determines the new structure, that rests on steel columns while paying homage to the building’s former industrial use, evoking the effect of trains passing through the existing building – a symbol of how the steel was transported by rail via a turntable directly into the hall.
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