Kohlektiv Nuremberg
The area of the former Nuremberg freight station is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation. In the coming years it will develop into a large office and retail location. The main building is preserved and thus serves as a historical reference to the former railway station and simultaneously stands for a further development of the site. Together with the new buildings that are and will be developed, an architectural mix is created that has an identity-forming effect. The building is characterized by a construction method typical for the time of its origin. A reinforced concrete skeleton construction, braced by the staircases, with infill panels of concrete and clinker tiles. Various decorative elements and the well-designed staircases complement the otherwise very rational architecture. The goal was to preserve the character of the building. At the same time, well-placed interventions, such as clearing the façade give the existing building a new presence. The ground floor was formerly used as a warehouse with all the façades closed off. By opening them up and removing the disruptive elements on the ground floor, a large, column-free, hall-like space is created, making the building more permeable and creating a stronger connection with the surroundings and the area in front of the busy S-Bahn station. The upper floors were completely emptied. Each floor is divided into three areas of use that can be combined into rental units of various sizes. Each unit is supplied with the necessary service infrastructure in a central zone which leaves the façades completely free for a variety of office layouts: from cubicle offices to multi-spaces. Until the 1990s, the standard color of Deutsche Bahn freight wagons was a reddish brown. This colour is used on various components of the building, such as the canopy or the railings, thus quoting the history of the building. The artwork "When Saturday comes" by Silke Wagner, made out of neon tubes, was installed on the closed east façade, clearly visible in the public space. In this way, the building retains its character and recognition value and at the same time stands for a new, modern working world.
