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BANKEN UND BEHÖRDEN • BANKS AND AUTHORITY BUILDINGS TECHNISCHER AUSBAU • TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

Wandabwicklung und Schnitt • Internal elevation and section

Holzverkleidungen und eine spezielle Tonanlage verbessern den Klang. • Wood panelling and special sound system. Plenarsaaltisch • Plenar hall table

T he redesign of the council chamber at the Norderstedt Town Hall, completed in of comfort and enhancing accessibility. Mobile and additional elements complement
and yet contrast existing features, while the lighting elements, as an integral part of
1984, is based on a careful integration of new spatial elements and furnishings.
Additionally, the existing space was outfitted with invisible technical upgrades to meet the original ceiling design, as well as the furnishings, were individually coordinated
the requirements of a modern council chamber. The original building, designed by with the room, further developed or redeveloped. The new furnishings consist of tie-
architects Peter Esau and Rolf Griesenberg, was essential for consolidating meeting red, semi-circular council tables, seating, a central lectern, the president’s table and a
and event spaces located in various districts into a central location. At the same time, media wall. These elements form a cohesive aesthetic that is clearly recognisable as a
the town hall, built following an architectural competition, was intended to establish a new spatial concept – and as a further “layer of time”.
new civic centre for the town, which was only founded in 1970. Alongside administrati-
ve functions, the complex includes public and cultural facilities accessible via a passa- Optimised lighting control ensures comfort and energy efficiency
geway running through the building. The council chamber on the first floor is marked
by a prominent bay window and tall window bands visible from the forecourt. Exter- Due to the room’s geometry, especially in relation to daylight openings, the windows
nally, the building features red brickwork, deep-set windows with colour-contrasted provide both an outward connection and a source of glare. However, the existing win-
frames and exposed concrete lintels. Inside, the atmosphere is darker and more formal, dows cannot sufficiently light the chamber during the day, necessitating the addition of
with subtly patterned carpets, wood panelling and rich shades of red and brown setting neutral-coloured light to create a “daytime” ambiance, with warm lighting used during
the atmosphere. The council chamber, measuring approximately 300 square metres, dusk and evening hours. Window screens enhance the visual comfort in the interior by
reflects this original aesthetic, with a design and scale that make it the heart of the reducing daylight glare while maintaining transparency for views out. The necessary ligh-
town hall. The space also accommodates other, non-political events and is intended to ting intensity in the interior can also be reduced thanks to this luminance optimisation,
remain multifunctional. The redesign preserved the room’s original character, including thus saving energy. Illuminating the central rear wall with the town coat of arms and the
its built-in brown wooden furnishings, while introducing a second, light and modern wall below the grandstand contribute to a cohesive overall impression of the hall. This
layer. The design for the introduction of this layer is based on the following princip- complementary lighting helps define the room as a whole and emphasises the materiality
les: meeting functional requirements, improving objectively measurable room quality of the wood panelling that characterises the space. At the same time, varied intensities
(natural and artificial lighting, technical equipment), creating a space with a high level and moods can be created for different types of events.

136 • AIT 12.2024