Monochrome Magic

Compiled by Team IAnD

Photography: David Franck; courtesy the architects

 

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Ar. Juergen Mayer uses a black and white schematic to accentuate a modern mixed-use building, opting for a complete shift from the traditional architectural surrounds…

The first thing that strikes you about this building is its stunning monochromatic composition; let your imagination flow...and you feel you are looking at snow melting down a building... let your eyes wander the expansive surrounds... and you see a clustered neighbourhood dotted with traditional architecture and this Juergen Mayer signature piece standing loftily in the centre. 

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There is always something about J. Mayer H. Architects from Berlin that makes you sit up and take note of aspects that indirectly but significantly focus on the intersection of architecture, communication and new technology. From urban planning schemes and buildings to installation work and objects with new materials, his structures, almost always, tend to explore the relationship between the human body, technology and nature.

 

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Led by project Architect, Jens Seiffert, this congregation of four new buildings with office, retail and residential spaces in the historic centre of Jena, Germany that cover a total floor area of approx. 10,000 sq. m, are as distinct as they are together.

 

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While the separate structures allow for free access through the grounds, their placement on the outer edges of the plot defines a small-scale outdoor space congruent with the medieval city structure.

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The overall architectural and design vocabulary flows out into the outdoor facilities, synergising the integration of commerce, residence, and office spaces, enabling a flexi-use mode that also integrates itself conceptually into the surroundings. The monochrome language visually accentuates the spatial flow, creating a striking presence, making the buildings stand apart in the milieu.