The competition site for the new town stadthalle is located near to the Buchen´s historic centre with a very fragmented urban development. This is characteristic of the entire city, which presents itself as the sum of free-standing buildings. We are in a hinge position, between the Odenwald area and the Buchen´s historic centre.

There is one more front in addition to the principal three positioned on the three streets that enclose the plot. This one is transformed into a municipal park and connecting North and South. This solution offers a variety of accessibility options to the planned building and allows its use both by the visitors of the Stadthalle and by passers-by. This creates visibly easy-to-use spaces that additionally guarantee maximum flexibility and independent use of each function. The design plays with the alternation of volume and emptiness, the built and the green of the gardens and the inner courtyards, which emphasizes the existing elements and wonderful views and gives them a new value.

The focal point of the new Stadthalle is a large and massive roof that covers both the inner and outer development zones as well as the concert hall of the Stadthalle. Large openings breakthrough this heavy-handed overlap so that light can penetrate the building in different ways, depending on its use and assignment in the overall composition. The foyer and the covered forecourt receive light through the walls. Interior and exterior merge into one unit. By playing with the light, different atmospheres are staged in the building: structures illuminated from the side or from above, luminous and coloured bodies, deep and long openings through which direct sunlight is incident in some places, and in others, long projections protect them from irradiation. Attention is paid to adequate lighting of the different zones, which at the same time provides a view to the outside. For this purpose, sun orientation and shades are always considered, especially for coverage planning.

The gap between volumes has the same relevance as volumes themselves. It creates a tense alternation of fullness and emptiness. There are covered spaces, but unbolt on sides or enclosed by walls, besides spaces opened on top. Thus, the design provides an external space, which is located on the same level of the building and is strongly associated with this. It serves as a connecting element between Schützenstraße and Walldürnerstraße and forms a path through the new garden.

The Standhalle raises on a platform, which has a double function: giving emphasis to the uniqueness of the function of this pavilion and providing it of a classical element. The resulting height difference is compensated by gentle ramps and generous staircases, connecting a series of open passageways.

The main entrance of the Stadthalle, which also serves as a meeting area for spectators, takes place in the southern corner, under the aforementioned roof. After entering the building, visitors have the opportunity to reach the Great Hall on the ground floor of the gallery on the 1st floor, the multifunctional room, the cloakroom or the cafeteria and toilets in the basement. Via the foyer or directly from the outside you get into the courtyard.

The design of the concert hall allows, according to the competition task, various configurations, depending on usage and number of visitors, whereby, as shown in the functional schemes proposed, it reveals its strong flexibility and functionality. Particular attention has been paid to natural lighting and the shape of the hall, to obtain optimal acoustics.

The ground floor of the existing building on Schützenstrasse (+344), because it stands at the same height as the rest of the building. We empty this level and placing here the kitchen – cafeteria, which faces the outer courtyard and directly connects to the street. Stairs and elevator reach the basement where toilets are located.

We proposer to use the two other floors as administrative or exhibition rooms of the hall because they can be used in conjunction with the toilets and the cafeteria independently of the rest of the building. The decision to use this building is not so much a consequence of necessity, but rather the desire to integrate the building into the volume already described. The entire “canopy” of the park was considered a green canopy.

In the northwest corner, there is the access to the stage, with a loading and unloading ramp for trucks. The stage is directly connected to the multipurpose hall on one side, the magazines and changing rooms on the north side. This unit receives daylight via skylights that illuminate and vent an English courtyard that reaches the depth of the basement where all the technical spaces are housed. The chair and table storage close to and at the same level of the hall is suggested as a flexible space when not in use and empty.

From the courtyard/terrace you reach the highest part of the garden using a ramp that approaches the Walldürnerstrasse. From this, a sequence of fullness and emptiness is proposed, starting with the small tower (little chapel) in the lower part of the street, the existing house, the volume of the roof openings and the roof of the park entrance at the ramp. From this point, you can turn back, go down through the park under the arcades to the building, with the tower of the St.Oswald church and the distant hills in the Odenwald background.