Competition entry for the new Rhein Main Hallen, Wiesbaden

The concept for the Rhein Main Hallen quotes elements of popular Wiesbaden colonnade architectures, such as the theatre colonnades and the Kurhaus colonnades. The elongated buildings whose colonnades connect exterior and interior, present a promenade for the citizens, a pathway between city scape and building. This is the way the concept for the new Rhein Main Hallen sees itself: in addition to its function as a fairground and an event location, it is an open space for the citizens of Wiesbaden. Exterior and interior overlap and are separated only by a transparent glass membrane. The promenade runs through the building on two levels. Transparent facades, generous entrances, inviting seating elements – on the inside and outside – lend the building its participative character.

In addition to the main entrance on Friedrich-Ebert-Allee, the building opens towards the city in the direction of Rheinstrasse. A restaurant with a welcoming terrace creates a connection to the city centre. The facade includes abstract column elements and archways as a reference to the colonnade architecture. The promenade as a dynamically curved pathway and communicative level links the various functional areas of the building complex to each other.

On the side facing the park the building dissolves into terraced cubature: a garden for the neighbouring kindergarten and a greened roof mark the transition to the Herbertanlage. The building merges unobtrusively into the picturesque overall view with a perspective of the main train station.