Scavenger Hunt: Zollverein School of Design

SEJIMA AND NISHIZAWA AND ASSOCIATES (SANAA)

ZOLLVEREIN SCHOOL OF

TABLE OF/ CONTENTS

The Architects

03

The Purpose

04

Exterior

06

Interior

08

Illustration

09

Photo Gallery

10

The Plan

12

Magazine

15

Google Earth

16

Library Sources

18

Film

19

Blog

20

Citations

22

"THE IDEAL IS TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT, THROUGH ITS PRESENCES, MAKES THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT LOOK BETTER, AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKES YOUR OWN BUILDING LOOK GOOD BY ITS VIRTUE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS." - Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAAÂ

SEJIMA & NISHIZAWA & ASSOCIATES SANAA was founded by two architects, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, in 1995.

Before SANAA, Sejima studied architecture at Japan Women's University and later went on to work for the architect Toyo Ito. Later, she set up her own studio in 1987.

Before, SANAA, Nishizawa studied architecture at the Yokohama National University, later opening his own practice in 1997 alongside SANAA.

SANAA KAZUYO SEJIMA + RYUE NISHIZAWA - yuko hasegawa The book, Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa SANAA, highlights various works through the careers of both architects. The three main concepts emphasized by this book is how these two architects work together, but also each of their differences.

Sejima and Nishizawa both value lightness and transparency within the vision of SANAA. They push the limits with their philosophy of interaction and human relationships with architecture. However, they differ in their concepts of forms and idea processes, which they often express in their individual work.

Nishizawa's beliefs are not related to physicality. Rather, he perceives that the environment, individual bodies, and buildings all hold the same value. He focuses on a larger perspective before considering the human physical relationship with the building.

Unlike Nishizawa, Sejima's strategy is to first begin with the perspective of the people inhabiting the building, and works up to a larger perspective. She chooses to challenge conventional notions and uses a rebellious sense of physicality.

PURPOSE Built from 2003 - 06, the Zollverein School of Design is primarily is used by design students and administration of the Folkwang University of the Arts. Not only does this building serve an educational purpose, but it adds SANAA's modern Japanese style to the landscape. It serves as a landmark of sustainability and urbanization in rural Germany.

EXTERIOR

Standing at 35 meters tall, the white cube known as the Zollverein School of Design is unlike any other building in Essen, Germany. Aside from it's massive and striking appearance, the most eye catching feature of the school is the seemingly random pattern of windows of varying sizes.

Unlike many Germany buildings, the Zollverein School of Design has unusually thin exterior walls. SANAA decided to trade in typical German insulation in order to maintain the certain aesthetic they were hoping to obtain. Inspired by the local mining nearby, SANAA decided to run pipes through the walls, which would push heated water throughout the building.

This heated water serves as a different kind of insulation while still keeping the walls paper thin.Â

INTERIOR From both the exterior and interior, one of the most notable features of the Zollverein School of Design are the windows of differentiating sizing and placement. These allow a great amount of light to come into the building and feeling of being almost outside. Additionally, SANAA decided to keep the interior all white with vaulted ceilings to give the perception of a boundless space.Â

ILLUSTRATION Although my illustration doesn't do the Zollverein School of Design justice, I was hoping to portray the the largeness of the entire building, as well as the rhythm of the windows on multiple sides. Although seemingly random, the windows do, for the most part, fall within a certain grid that one may barely see in a picture or in person.Â

PHOTO GALLERY

THE PLANS

Zollverein School of Design by Sections

Northern Wall

Third Floor

Ground Floor

Second Floor

First Floor

Fourth Floor

"ARCHITECTURE IS HOW PEOPLE MEET IN SPACE." —KAZUYO SEJIMA

'INSIDE THE CUBE CAN BE FUN' Thomas Wagner for StyleSpark Magazine

INTERIOR The open spaces of the Zollverein School of Design are immensely fascinating, yet extremely challenging in deciphering an optimal way to fill the space without overwhelming the sense of space and simplicity it exudes

FURNISHINGS Shuttering was used to create the tables, dividers, and other furnishings presented by those who attended this camp. The idea was to bring an element of color and improvisation to portray a perfect space with imperfections.

INHABITATION The goal of the students of this summer program was to find and build pieces that perfectly fit the vastness of the school.

Their furniture fills the emptiness and brings to life the white space.

GOOGLE EARTH Located in Essen, Germany, the Zollverein School of Design is hard to miss. Juxtaposed by the local coal mining warehouses and typical German architecture, the massive 35 meter by 35 meter cube dominates the landscape.Â

The Zollverein School of Design was built directly across a large neighborhood and popular street. Standing in stark contrast to the suburbia created by the common houses and greenery, this piece of architecture is a vision of urbanism within rural Germany.Â

LIBRARY SOURCES KAZUYO SEJIMA + RYUE NISHIZAWA -- SANAA ZOLLVEREIN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN Kristin Feireiss

Acoustics and Sound Insulation: Principles, Planning, Examples Eckard Mommertz

The masterplan of the Zollverein School of Design and Management was to bring urbanization to a rural area in Germany formally known for coal mining by using a European tradition of architectural competition for the public space. The first thing that SANAA took into account was the size of the land and it's surroundings, and how to create a landmark that would vividly contrast the landscape. The architect's responsibility while in this competition was to create a building that would exude Zollverein's promise of to dominate the areas of knowledge and higher learning.Â

Focusing on how the traveling and invasion of sound and acoustics effect a building, Mommertz highlighted that the unconventional architectural structure of the Zollverein create a difficulty and creating optimal acoustics within the building.

Because the building, specifically the auditorium, lacks material that would normally absorb sound, carpet and panels on both the floor and walls were installed to capture various speech frequencies. Additionally, because the walls are made of glass, which would normally reflect sound, the walls are inclined slightly to avoid flutter echos. Despite Zollverein's unique architecture, appropriate acoustics was created around this space.Â

FILM Green Architecture Film: The animation first began by describing the historical background of the location of the Zollverein School of Design. Before the school, there was a large coal mining factory that was eventually torn down. Although the site was unoccupied, thermal water was still pumped throughout the site. The idea was to use this land to create an urban landmark to bring attention to Essen, Germany. The film illustrates how the thermal water is pumped into the school, showing the animation of both below ground and within the walls of Zollverein, and explaining how this process insulates the building. Additionally, the seemingly random windows are specifically arranged according to the various positions of the sun, allowing more light and warmth. This concept can be carried throughout much of Essen, Germany to create a more sustainable and urbanized city.

blog Ziger | Snead Architects

BACKGROUND The site for which the Zollverein School of Design was planned to be built was known as the site of one of the largest and most technically advanced mines in the world, which contributed to the importance behind this project.

CONCEPT Much like the final product, SANAA's original idea was to create a 35 by 35 meter cement cube; however, they hoped to perforate the thick outer walls with thousands of small windows. Because this proved too costly and complex, they decided to create larger windows and thinner walls.

SIMPLICITY Because Zollverein is a domineering cube of concrete, it is difficult to avoid the space seeming too heavy and motionless.

However, SANAA was able to create a building that brings transparency, light, and concrete together effortlessly.

Pictures / Videos

CITATIONS Websites / Magazines / Blogs arcspace.com. (2012). The Zollverein School - arcspace.com. [online] Available at: https://arcspace.com/feature/the-zollvereinschool/ [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Google Earth. (2019). Overview – Google Earth. [online] Available at: https://www.google.com/earth/ [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Metalocus, A. The Zollverein School of Management and Design by SANAA | The Strength of Architecture | From 1998. [online] Metalocus.es. Available at: https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/zollverein-schoolmanagement-and-design-sanaa [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Wagner, T. (2013). Inside the cube can be fun | STYLEPARK. [online] Stylepark. Available at: https://www.stylepark.com/en/news/inside-the-cube-can-be-fun [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Zigersnead.com. (2008). Blog · Ziger/Snead Architects. [online] Available at: http://www.zigersnead.com/current/blog/post/zollverein-schoolbuilding-active-thermal-insulation/02-09-2008/769/ [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

arcspace.com. (2012). The Zollverein School - arcspace.com. [online] Available at: https://arcspace.com/feature/the-zollverein-school/ [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Google Earth. (2019). Overview – Google Earth. [online] Available at: https://www.google.com/earth/ [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Greenarchitecture-film.blogspot.com. (2010). Green Architecture + Film. [online] Available at: http://greenarchitecture-film.blogspot.com/search/label/Reka [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Metalocus, A. The Zollverein School of Management and Design by SANAA | The Strength of Architecture | From 1998. [online] Metalocus.es. Available at: https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/zollverein-school-management-and-design-sanaa [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Simo, R. (2010). The Zollverein School of Management and Design. [online] Vimeo. Available at: https://vimeo.com/15772049 [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Books / Quotes Designfeast.com. (2010). Design Feast | Thoughts on Arts and Life | Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa on Architecture. [online] Available at: http://www.designfeast.com/thoughts-onarts-and-life/entry/kazuyo-sejima-ryue-nishizawa-on-architecture [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].

Feireiss, K., Sejima, K., Nishizawa, R. and Alkemade, F. (2006). Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa, SANAA, the Zollverein School of Management and Design Essen, Gemany. Munich: Prestel.

Hasegawa, Y. (2006). Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa. Milano (Electaarchitecture).

Mommertz, E. (2012). Acoustics and Sound Insulation. Munich, Germany: Edition Detail, pp.80-81 Roux, C. (2010). The Gentlewoman – Kazuyo Sejima. [online] Thegentlewoman.co.uk.

Available at: https://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library/kazuyo-sejima [Accessed 13 Feb. 2019].