Art Gallery and Arts Educational Centre in Waiblingen
The Unteres Remstahl Arts Educational Centre and the Stihl Gallery of the town of Waiblingen in southwest Germany rest like two pebbles on the banks of the River Rems. Their slightly abstract air softens the transition between the narrow alleyways of the old town and the broad open spaces beyond. Viewed from the river, the narrow point between the two polygonal channel-glass facades of the buildings looks like a modern interpretation of a historic town gateway. At first glance the two buildings seem identical, but the horizontal division of the facade of the arts centre gives a hint of the differences in the interior: it marks the line of the mezzanine overlooking a central hall extending over two floors. The art gallery opposite is designed as a single, free-flow space, zoned only by the load-bearing cores into a foyer, exhibition area and storage space. At the main entrance a translucent expanded-metal gate pivots open along the full height of the building. At this point the architects have broadened the 0.50 m narrow cavity in the double-skin facade into a 2-m-wide lobby that acts like a filter, preparing the visitors to enter this modern art temple. The translucent curtain of spun-glass-filled channel glass creates a neutral lighting situation, sunblinds in the facade cavity enable lighting levels to be adjusted for sculptures and sensitive graphic art exhibits.
