Page 142 - AIT0516_E-Paper

ÖFFENTLICHE BAUTEN • PUBLIC BUILDINGS INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES
Die Flora bei Nacht: unten der hell erleuchtete Große Saal, oben der Dachsalon • The Flora at night Edles Ambiente: strahlendes Weiß, durch Licht inszeniert • Upscale ambience: bright white staged by light
Grundriss Erdgeschoss • Ground floor plan
Grundriss Obergeschoss • Upper floor plan
Querschnitt • Cross section
142 • AIT 5.2016
I t took about 70 years. In June 2014, it was accomplished. The Cologne Flora had its
barrel roof back – even if in a modified form. The originally semi-circular glass roof
had been destroyed during the Second World War and replaced with a flat roof in the
1950s. Instead of the glass roof, now a semi-circular construction covered with zinc
sheet sits enthroned above the listed building. For reasons of energy consumption and
noise protection, this variant was favoured from today’s perspective. The new barrel
vault crowns the elongated, representative domed hall. Rosette-like windows in the
fronts add their very special atmospheric appeal in the façade and in the hall. In the
mind’s eye, the glory and glamour of the Gründerzeit come back to life. Nostalgic charm
which no new building is able to achieve – unless decades later! The geometry of the
crossed barrel roof makes a festive, cathedral-like spatial impression. 250 luminous glo-
bes suspended from the ceiling also make a contribution. The Bocci luminaires looking
like oversized raindrops produce a fairy-tale-like play of light.
Festive start
The foyer already puts the guests in a festive mood. Above the entrance rests a large,
oval, illuminated glass roof. Curving flights of stairs lead to the terrace. Solnhofen floor
panels, wood-panelled cloakrooms and a ceiling of illuminated glass beads are proof of
the upscale, thought-out choice of materials for the interior. Sculptural flights of stairs
then take the guests upwards for 23 metres. When riding the panoramic elevators, the
visitors enjoy a view of the botanical garden and its surroundings. What particularly cat-
ches the eye as well: the historic façades with their large glass elements – a time journey
into the past. The ground floor as well looks like in the 19th century. The high-ceilinged
ball room was there brought back to life. For this purpose, as a reference to the original
palm house, K+H Architekten had the historic glass supports reconstructed and had
them staged with light. To achieve an optimum result, the lighting as well as all the sur-
faces were visualized and finally sampled and checked on site on a scale of 1:1. In a nos-
talgic way, the restored and reworked chandeliers from the 1950s evoke the mood of
times past. In addition, state-of-the art lighting technology ensures that the whitewas-
hed hall with the arched windows can be immersed in various colour- and light moods.
Massive oak parquet – like in the lounge upgraded with square inlays of smoked oak –
in the truest sense of the word provides a stable, party-suited floor for social events,
banquets or award ceremonies with numerous guests. When it came to the interior
design, the architects, monument conservators and clients were advised by Cologne
interior architect Dorothee Spitz. There was also close cooperation between Wieland
Egger and the monument-conservation authorities. Together with the client and the ope-
rator, KölnKongress – a subsidiary company of the city of Cologne and Koelnmesse – the
decision was made that the former orangery was to be freed of all the annexes that had
accumulated in the course of the decades. These annexes were replaced with one single
new building. In the form of a two-storey wing with printed glass façades, it extends
parallel to the historic Flora. In it are new hall- and foyer areas which, thanks to their
ceiling-high glazing, profit from a magnificent view of nature. Inspired by to the former
orangery and analogous to the name Flora, reliefs of flowers and leaves were integrated
into the suspended ceilings. LED light bands emphasize these motifs.