„The adaptive cultural hub“
Transformative Spaces: a vision for Stuttgart’s Adaptive Cultural Hub is a state-of-the-art framework that embodies innovation, diversity, and flexibility.
Team name: THE HUB, PLH Arkitekter
Authors: Søren Mølbak, Lars Toksvig, Povilas Dumcius, Denmark
Transformative Spaces: a vision for Stuttgart’s Adaptive Cultural Hub
We do not see it as our task to choose which ideas should unfold in the city’s new “Space for Ideas.” Instead, our goal is to create a framework for a large, flexible space where all ideas can find a place.
Our building framework is designed to accommodate all types of cultural events, ensuring accessibility for all city users — young and old, rich and poor, residents and visitors alike. It is capable of hosting events day and night, in both summer and winter. In short, it is a state-of-the-art framework that embodies innovation, diversity, and flexibility.
This inclusive and future-proof approach is highly sustainable, as it can adapt innovatively to all ideas, both now and in the future. It will attract a wide range of events and offer experiences to a diverse audience, making it a landmark associated with Stuttgart.
Our building framework consists of a three-dimensional space grid that encompasses the “Space for Ideas” as a basement, façade, and roof. The grid includes all supplementary functions for the space itself. To the east and west, there are stairs, elevators, technical ducts, and toilet cores. On the upper floors, facing the façades, there are flexible spaces featuring meeting and conference rooms, offices, and lounges.
The space grid spans the room and includes sound and lighting systems as well as large running cranes and hoists for set pieces. These allow inserted decks to be lowered from the ceiling and combined with the floors’ balconies. The ground floor can be easily modified using hydraulic lifts, enabling stages to emerge and transforming the space into, for example, an amphitheater or an arena. The lifts also allow for easy storage of furniture, set pieces, and more in the basement.
The building’s façades can be adapted to its function, enabling continuous changes in appearance. Large transparent shutters can be opened and closed depending on the sun’s position, and they can be completely closed for evening performances. The shutters are translucent and can be illuminated with artificial light featuring adjustable color and brightness.
Similarly, skylights can allow daylight to enter.
Imagine a high-tech framework created from modular, intelligent constructions that can be continuously reconfigured from open, airy spaces to intimate, enclosed areas. This framework, like our building, embodies innovation and flexibility, always ready to adapt and meet any need the city may have.
Towards the old station building, the structure opens with a large arcade that connects to the new plaza as a covered space. Architecturally, the arcade’s arches engage in dialogue with the old station building’s design and integrate seamlessly into Stuttgart’s traditional architectural landscape.