An innovative university campus will be developed in Kulmbach as a branch of the University of Bayreuth for the Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health, creating space for interdisciplinary research and teaching for the future. Located close to the city centre, this project provides a unique opportunity to repurpose the former freight station site with significant functional and urban planning stimuli, closely integrating the new campus with the city. The construction of the university campus will transform this former industrial site along the railway line into a forward-looking scientific hub.
Urban planning
In the heterogeneous setting of large-scale structures and buildings like the Kulmbach breweries and the railway directly to the north, we envision a compact, powerful building with a clear exterior geometry that serves as a structuring element. Positioned along the northern boundary of the site, it reflects the layout of the former spinning mill complex and the current bus terminal (ZOB), allowing the maximum possible distance for the open spaces in the south. The linear inner space of the former mill site continues onto the new campus as the so-called “Science Corridor”, seamlessly blending into the landscape of the White Main River. The rhythmically segmented building along the railway subtly marks entrances and access points. The building’s midpoint, with its prominent height, is visible from afar, creating a visual connection to the city and the Plassenburg fortress. To minimise the building’s footprint and optimise land use, both construction phases are planned to be positioned compactly to the east of the Kulmbach Brewery’s utility lines. This is achieved by positioning the car park along the building’s entire northern side towards the railway line, allowing for a secondary rear entrance to the central foyer. We propose phase 2 as a fourth structure directly adjoining phase 1, forming a cohesive and modern university building with optimised functional interconnections and short internal pathways.
The campus building
The architecture of the campus building is defined by openness and transparency, with a central foyer featuring a café and generous seating stairs serving as the building’s primary gathering spot, the FORUM. The outdoor space of the “Science Corridor” located in front flanks the entire ground floor, creating smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. Both the cafeteria near the entrance to the city and the workspaces along the façade enliven and animate the outdoor areas. The two largest lecture halls directly adjoin the foyer on the ground floor. The result is a flexible space for a wide range of event formats, with ample space for students to gather. An open atrium with a staircase above the FORUM connects all upper floors. All central teaching and public event rooms, as well as the library and administrative offices on the first floor, are grouped around the FORUM with its surrounding galleries, creating a strong spatial network.
The institutes
The floor plan for the institutes on the top two floors reflects the interdisciplinary approach of research and teaching. Parallel to the laboratories along the north façade, the linear layout results in cluster-like office spaces for modern working environments facing south, creating closely interlinked laboratories and office spaces that allow for maximum flexibility in their occupancy. The greenhouse atop the building serves as the structure’s crowning feature, visibly showcasing the university’s mission from afar.
The outdoor space
The landscape concept is based on the idea of an independent place that uses its design vocabulary to create spaces, develop identity-forming places and provide opportunities for all students and local residents. The urban layout and building structure foster a strong integration with the surrounding open spaces, with the design of the outdoor areas creating a unity of inside and outside, of buildings and landscaping.
