The Culture Factory Norderstedt

Roloff • Ruffing

Norderstedt

completion 2011
gross floor area 3.000 qm

The Norderstedt Culture Factory project sprang from the idea of bringing different cultural institutions, at present spread all over the city, under one roof. Hitherto, all the venues for learning and practising, as well as for holding meetings, have been spatially cut off from each other; in future, they would all be able to find a new home in the former Potenberg limestone quarry and brick-works. At the same time, it is vitally important that, in addition to institutionalised establishments such as FORUM, TRIBÜHNE and the Music School, the common interests of the "free groups" be won over to the new Culture Factory. Only a broad spectrum of different styles and events will bring this place to the notice of Norderstedt's local populace as its cultural venue.     
With the conversion of the old gravel plant, a very special meeting point can be created: a place that, apart from the cultural exchange it engenders, will turn its history of gravel-quarrying and brick-making into a visible experience. In this abandoned industrial complex, a meeting-place is intended where, along the lines of the concept "jeans meet pinstripes", different social- and age-groups can be brought together for the most varied events.
Also, from the architectonic, conceptual point of view, the history of gravel-quarrying and the manufacturing processes entailed in brick-making play an important role.
In this way, the causes and effects of gravel-quarrying will remain comprehensible to future generations. Visitors are to be made aware that brick-making has left a visible scar on the landscape--the Baggersee. It is intended that they grasp how production was carried out inside the building via the way in which they utilise it, albeit in reverse order. Thus, in future, cars will park in what were once the storage yards, the horizontal tramway become the foyer, the kiln-area the cloakrooms, and the moulding-shop the hall where various events will be held. The "Course of Bricks" is intended for visitors as a permanent exhibition on display in the foyer.