Campus Geisenheim

Campus: Openness, Density, liveliness

A Campus thrives on its openness and at the same time on its density and liveliness. This principle is intentionally incorporated into the design. The new university buildings are organized in high density along two lines, which define the main access ways of the entire campus. The reduction to this clear structure has allowed for an improved pedestrian circulation, a high sense of orientation and a clear perception of the main functions of the university.

The Different Areas of the Campus

At the eastern side of the campus, through a setback in the auditorium building and the assembly hall, the entrance plaza creates an extended street space which includes the bus stop and invites the students into the campus. The two squares on both sides of the administration building serve as entrance squares to the auditorium building and the canteen. They are inserted in the existing surroundings as flowing surfaces with seating possibilities and attractive plantings, offering space for open-air sojourns and communication.

The western side of the campus is characterized by the Muttergarten. The institutes are organized around this garden which plays a meaningful role for the university. The Muttergarten is framed by the buildings, emphasizing on its meaning as the central existing part of the campus. All institutes are oriented with their entrances towards the Muttergarten, which defines their addresses at an easily locatable place.

The southern part of the campus is characterized by Villa Monrepo. After crossing the railway towards the south, at the end of the bridge, the view opens up towards Villa Monrepo and the Rhein landscape. The square in front of Villa Monrepo shapes the southern entrance to the campus at the street level. A lift connects the two storey parking building, designed at the railway level to the bridge above, which connects the southern side to the rest of the campus and provides the required pedestrian accessibility.