DHBW Lörrach

The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Lörrach was looking for suitable premises for its new architecture degree programme and the Vitra Campus provided the perfect solution: sections of the factory building designed by Álvaro Siza in 1994 were available for rent – and as it would be hard to find a more inspiring environment for future architects than the Vitra Campus, the decision was easy.

The axial grid layout of the Siza facility makes it possible to demarcate spacious zones along the lateral façades. An area of 1000 m2 was partitioned off in the southwest part of the building for the DHBW. With a floor-to-ceiling height of seven metres, the space allowed the integration of a two-storey structure – a flexible, low-impact, dismantlable installation, made from local wood as a renewable raw material. It contains an open, elongated drawing area for students, an auditorium, library, kitchen, lecture and seminar rooms, workshops and secretarial offices.

The rooms are equipped with furniture from Vitra and Artek, which can be spontaneously rearranged to suit changing needs within seconds. The highly flexible and modular Comma office furniture and table system in the large main area forms a particularly agile solution in combination with robust HAL chairs – or utmost flexibility.