Competition for the construction of a new visitor center for the "Zeche Nachtigall"-Museum in Witten
- Design:PLAN FORWARD GmbH
- GFA | Gr. Vol.:Ground floor + first floor 1,138 m² | 3,415 m³ each
- Services:Non-open, architectural competition according to RPW 2013
- submission:2023
- Aw. Authority:Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) / LWL-Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb, Münster
Project description
As part of the plans of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) and the city of Witten with the "Ruhrfenster Muttental" project, existing deficiencies in the functional structure and visitor experience of the Nachtigall Colliery Museum are to be remedied.
To this end, the LWL launched a Non-open competition according to RPW 2013 in December 2022. PLAN FORWARD was one of the 15 pre-selected participants.
Briefing
The museum offers various exhibition and activity areas both indoors and outdoors with the listed ring furnace, machine house and workshop building on a total area of 43,000 m².
The briefing called for forward-looking design concepts that would make the museum site more visible and incorporate the Ruhr as a historical site for coal storage and the port. In addition, a sustainability certificate from the DGNB e.V. in the gold category was to be sought for the new building.
The PLAN FORWARD-concept
Together, the new building and the existing building enclose "the new CENTER". This space contains the "arrival piazza", the outdoor area of the newly build restaurant and the new playground/play area. Activities and facilities such as a weekend market or outdoor exhibitions make the entire “Museumsquartier” more attractive to the public.
The building designed by PLAN FORWARD is integrated into the topography. It is clearly recognizable from the newly planned entrance and arouses curiosity about the exhibition through the shape of the building and the views in and out.
Inside, visitors are greeted by an open, clearly structured zone with an information area and catering facilities. Targeted visual guidance and openings in the walls allow for curios glances of the exhibition.
The exhibition room provides an initial overview of the history of “Zeche Nachtigall”. Visitors are led into the area via a tunnel-like connecting area and experience an authentic impression of the original working methods.
The aim of PLAN FORWARD's sophisticated energy concept is to make use of the local microclimate conditions in the architectural design.