Town Hall
The new town hall was built in a prominent location in the historic district of Zell. By dividing the building mass into two clearly distinguishable structures, it blends harmoniously into the historic context with its finely gridded urban fabric. The staggered arrangement of the two structures enhances the visual axis from the striking building of the tax office across the street to the banks of the Moselle. The two wings of the building form an inner courtyard that opens onto Town Hall Square, signaling an “open” building with this inviting gesture.
Since the new municipal building is located in the floodplain of the city of Zell, strategies to prevent structural damage and restrictions on use were defined in advance and had to be incorporated into the design. In accordance with these requirements, a building base was constructed that contains no functional spaces but serves solely as a parking level and can be completely flooded if necessary.
The material concept is limited to a minimalist and clear selection of building materials. The building was designed and constructed as a solid-frame structure. Reinforced concrete was used for the ceilings and load-bearing walls, while insulated bricks were used for the exterior walls.
In addition to the use of durable and low-maintenance materials and construction methods, an innovative climate concept was central to the sustainability considerations. For example, the sloped roof surfaces were covered with PV roof shingles. These modules are capable of enabling approximately 70% energy self-sufficiency.
