The History of the Building
A perfect example of the “Darmstadt Building System:” The architecture department building
Sandra Wagner-Conzelmann, Fachgebiet GTA
The building of the Faculty of Architecture is located on the southern periphery of the city of Darmstadt, around two kilometres away from the university quarter in the city centre. It was the first building to be constructed as part of a comprehensive plan for the “greenfield” expansion of the TU Darmstadt.
From a distance, the building evokes the impression of an amorphous angular concrete block. On closer examination, however, its appearance becomes more diversified and a number of different structures can be identified, i.e. the main building, the library building and the lecture theatres. Concrete parapets and ribbon windows provide an external indication of the subdivision of the main building into six floors and lend a horizontal articulation to the façade. In contrast to this, vertical emphasis is created by the recessed staircase tower. A striking feature is the repeated dimension which defines the proportions of the entire complex as well as the design of the façades, glass and open areas. This repeated dimension can be found as a structural and design element in all of the faculty buildings on the Lichtwiese that originate from the same period. This comprehensive expansion is based on a development plan formulated in 1964 in conjunction with the Darmstädter Bausystem, i.e. “Darmstadt Building System”.