THOLOI

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THOLOI IN METAMORPHOSE

Kulturforum | Berlin, Germany

Inner City Development

Instead of offering a homogenous overall concept, the main focus leaves the unique architectural characteristics of individual buildings within the "Kulturforum" undisturbed. therefore to carry on with the idea of the "Stadtlandschaft" from Hans Scharoun.
It was not the intention of Scharon that the individual buildings should offer orientation within the Kulturforum - his idea was that each of these unique building generates its own blurred negative space.

Almost all the areas and gardens (by Hermann Mattern) around the building stay unimpeached. ones experience within the public square, between the buildings, draws on the occuring tensions created from the individual "force fields" given out from the buildings. This visual and emotional communication is a result of the changing views and physical passage towards and away from individual objects, this experience can be enhanced, guided or even destroyed by subsequent architectural addition.

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Inner City Development

The most powerful relationship exists between the National Galerie (by Mies v.d.Rohe) and the Philharmony (by Scharoun) positioned at opposite ends of the public square.

Utilising two walkways which are landscaped with trees, the square is framed. This arrangement creates a direction and connects the main entrance of the National Gallery with the access of the philharmony. Upon this framed tablet the tholoi can react to different situations by changing its form. Tholoi can create a new focus, enhancing the forces within the Kulturforum.

In conclusion the infinatly variable tholoi creates a dynamic creative experience for all those who come within the kulture forum - a constantly metamorphosing oasis within the city.

variation 01 closed circular building

All eight single elements create a closed circular building

variation 02 turbine

The elements create a turbine-like arrangement; depending on the rotation speed and angle the feeling of compression changes and influences the movement on the square

variation 03 closed circular building

Pairs of alternating elements face each other in order to enable communication - after a short while they rotate to find the next element in line

variation 04 sundial

All elements align towards the sun - while the big disc still rotates slowly. This enables the person spending time on the tholoi never to sit in shadow

variation 05 concert

All elements - except one - create a closed circular building. the entrance is formed by rotating the single element. This formation appears for special events or when a peacefull quiet oasis whithin the city is desired

variation 06 interactive circular building

The closed circular building can interact to different factors - for example opening one section to a group of people walking by, to offer a glimpse of what is hidden inside the Tholoi

variation 07 breathing

The elements create four v -shapes wall sections, that offer a almost completely closed inner zone. All the walls alternate and allow people to get a glimpse of the inner section

variation 08 opened circular building

All the single elements are rotated 180 degrees to expose the tholois´ green inside and to encourage people to enter

variation 09 regions

The elements move to create four wall sections; the lawn areas, normally situated inside the closed Tholoi, are directed towards the puplic square

variation 10 communication

The elements are arranged, creating a visual channel between two of the surrounding buildings giving passers by a specific view

variation 11 partially closed circular building

Three elements create a closed wall section towards Potsdamer Street if the traffic during rush hours get too noisy. All the elements keep on going with what they did before

variation 12 enticement

The elements create a closed circular building - but every second element alternates slowly a couple degrees in order to entice people in