Max Reinhardt

Market Hall Bremen

The aim of the design is to improve a quarter of Bremen the “Bahnhofsvorstadt”. Despite being the gateway to the city for 100.000 commuters daily its condition is not welcoming.

Suffering from a crossing flyover the quarter shows significant signs of decay. But the potential is enormous due to the high number of daily visitors and being located in Bremens`s centre and neighbouring economically strong areas.

According to numerous expertises the flyover has become redundant. Hence the overpass will be demolished except for the first sections. Instead a boulevard with tree clusters will be developed.  The remaining parts will be narrowed and converted into a park.

Bordering the central-station´s square (“Bahnhofvorplatz”), the flyover´s demolition upvalues the open space. By placing the new development on the Bahnhofvorplatz it gains further quality transforming its vastness into well-proportioned public urban spaces. 

The building serves as a new landmark for the quarter generating further investments.

The heart of the building is the market-hall which is surrounded by retailers and restaurants over two levels.  The underground level integrates the tram station and a car park.  

Through the market-hall the public space is extended into the building opening it up to everyone therefore increasing the acceptance of the provocative design. The circular footprint of the building with its five irregular-shaped entrances (streets) is a reference to a market-square ensemble.

The variety of usages ranging from public transport to a market hall, retail and bar/ restaurants guarantees an overlap of activities creating a vital public space at all times. 

The building´s shape is derived from the analysis of overlapping lines of movements on the “Bahnhofvorplatz”. By creating an attraction the lines are interrupted and lifted into the corresponding functional areas. Cantilevering into the street space the building is seen from a distance displaying its role as the “new and exciting” contrasting the dull adjoining architecture from the 60´es. 

 

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