Meinhard von Gerkan Livres

In recent years, few German buildings have received as much public attention as the capital's new airport, designed by von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects. Since opening in October 2020, BER can now be experienced by everyone. This volume of the gmp FOCUS series offers insight into the design and planning of the airport, which is characterized by short distances, a high degree of modularity, and flexibility of use. Based on a universal planning and design manual, all elements of the airport are integrated into an axial system and form an architectural-functional unit. An essay by architecture critic Falk Jaeger and an interview with the designing architects provide background information on the project.

Bilingual edition (English/German) / Zweisprachige Ausgabe (deutsch/englisch) Building a historic city museum in the capital city of a country that is experiencing vehement political and economic turmoil was a challenge for all those involved. What is the social purpose of this museum? How should it present itself from an architectural and urban development point of view? What has emerged is a solitaire like an inverted pyramid, with layered terraces jutting outwards increasingly towards the top, amidst an artificially laid out park with water features, which provides large areas for outdoor exhibitions. The responsible architects present the project in this volume. The architecture of the Hanoi Museum is illuminated by means of plans, images, and texts. The renowned specialized journalist Falk Jaeger sets the building within the context of architectural history.

Bilingual edition (English/German) / Zweisprachige Ausgabe (deutsch/englisch) In 2018, one of the currently largest new museum buildings in Germany was opened in Mannheim, designed by the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners. Owing to its unique facade, which is characterized by a bronze-colored metal mesh, the new building of the Kunsthalle Mannheim integrates confidently with its surroundings. It links up with the historical museum building and has been designed as a “city within the city,” offering visitors interesting walking circuits with varying insights and views out. The centerpiece and prelude to the new building is formed by the freely accessible central atrium. In this volume of the gmp focus series, the architects illuminate their design and grant an insight into the challenges of the building task. In addition, an essay from architectural critic Jürgen Tietz examines why museums like the Kunsthalle Mannheim are still needed today.

Bilingual edition (English/German) / Zweisprachige Ausgabe (deutsch/englisch) A new culture park has been created in recent years in the Chinese harbor city of Tianjin. The Tianjin Grand Theater occupies a key position on this site, entering into a dialog with its architectural surroundings. The circular form of the roof construction relates to that of the Natural History Museum there in such a way that it creates a connection between the earthbound museum and the seemingly floating theater building. In this volume, the responsible architects illuminate the Grand Theater by means of texts and images, and show how syntheses can be created between western and eastern traditions in a highly modern building. The architecture critic Jürgen Tietz discusses the building in a detailed critique.

The Grand Theater is not a building with a typical façade with wall and window surfaces, but is contained within a well-positioned curtain of frosted glass panels. The magazine Baumeister comments: “The light penetrating from the inside to the outside, as well as the reflection of sun, clouds, and water on the multilayered and staggered glass surfaces, present the building in ever-changing, mystical lighting moods.” In this volume, the responsible architects present the architectural design by means of texts, images, and plans. An essay by the architecture journalist Dirk Meyhöfer discusses the Grand Theater.

Bilingual edition (English/German) / Zweisprachige Ausgabe (deutsch/englisch) “The Shanghai Oriental Sports Center (SOSC) has emerged as a model project of German architecture and engineering skill,” is the verdict of the renowned architecture journalist Dirk Meyhöfer in his architectural critique of the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. Inaugurated in 2011 on the occasion of the FINA World Swimming Championships, the site brings together the SOSC swimming facilities, a multipurpose venue, and a press center, whose forms and materials harmonize as an ensemble. From an urban development perspective, its park grounds merge with their surroundings. In this volume, the SOSC is presented by the responsible architects and illuminated by means of images and plans. Dirk Meyhöfer comments on the ensemble in an extensive accompanying critique.