Shopping Mall Königsgalerie
Kassel’s central circular Königsplatz was designed by urban planner and architect Louis du Ry in the 18th century, and is well embedded in public awareness.
The present-day tram-stop shelters have a dual function: to mark the location of the tram stops and to provide a place to pause, at the same time indicating the direction of the main route along Königsstrasse in what is a largely directionless plaza. They mediate between the circular space and the dynamics of the tram line.
The roofs are flat ellipsoids, with curved outlines that reflect the geometry of the plaza and develop it along the line of the main orientation of the space. They make reference to the idea of the “clouds of Hercules”, discussed a few years ago, but have developed away from the cumulus towards the cirrus type – good-weather clouds and geometrically regular.
The kiosk takes the form of a glazed pavilion nestling beneath the northern shelter. The clear basic shape of the kiosk is again inspired by the circular shape of the plaza, without replicating it exactly. The contents of the glass structure, newspapers and magazines, are openly displayed so that the information, while forming the content, is transformed by the glazed shell into part of the structure.
| Building Typology: | Retail | Office |
|---|---|
| Location: | Kassel |
| Country: | Germany |
| Planning / Construction Period: | 1993 - 1995 |
| Order type: | New Building |
| Project Participants: | |
| Scope of Services: |
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| Gross Floor Area: | 25000 m² |
| Awards: |
European Shopping Centre Award 1997 |
