With the extension and renovation of the listed town hall in Brühl, the Cologne-based architectural firm JSWD has realized a project for the sensitive handling of historical buildings. Following a design competition in 2017, the building was put into operation in November 2023. The total gross floor area is around 5,200 square meters and, in addition to the town hall extension, includes an integrated city library and the redesign of the adjacent Janshof as a town square.

The challenge was to replace the existing extension from the 1960s and at the same time create a contemporary extension that both does justice to the listed old building and sets new urban accents. While the historic main façade of the town hall is oriented towards the market square, the extension develops its presence in the direction of Steinweg and in particular towards Janshof.

The design picks up on the differentiated urban spaces of Brühl’s old town by linking the three entrance situations – Markt, Steinweg and Janshof – on the first floor. This strategy creates a functional and spatial link between the existing historical buildings and contemporary additions.

The new building reinterprets the cubature of the monument and develops an independent building volume consisting of three interlocking structures. The gabled view of the staggered front building reflects the proportions of the old town and blends harmoniously into the existing urban fabric.

The material-appropriate implementation of the façade design is particularly noteworthy. The sand-colored brick not only gives the building good legibility, but also differentiates functionally between the various areas of use. Large incisions mark the entrances, perforated façades mark the office floors, while filter masonry screens off the library areas. The light-colored brick also consistently clads the roof surfaces, reinforcing the cubic effect of the new building.

The functional structure of the building follows a well thought-out concept that takes into account the different visitor frequencies and opening times. All rooms – from the wedding room to the service center to the multifunctional hall and the library – are arranged in such a way that they can be accessed independently. This flexibility enables both efficient operational management and synergy effects by linking different functions.

The new foyer with its spacious, real wood veneered counter acts as a central point of contact and combines the functions of citizen service and tourist information. A metal mesh curtain allows it to be closed outside operating hours.

The city library is spread over several floors according to theme, taking into account different acoustic requirements and spatial references. The central information desk is located on the second floor, while the children’s library in the basement is characterized by walk-in, colourfully designed built-in furniture and a naturally lit reading courtyard. This differentiated spatial arrangement creates specific atmospheres for different user groups.

The project is characterized by high energy standards, with maximum preservation of the old building fabric. Energy and heat are supplied by a combined heat and power plant. Triple-glazed windows, a high daylight yield, external sun protection and partial concrete activation guarantee reduced energy requirements. These measures demonstrate how contemporary energy efficiency can also be achieved in listed buildings.

The transformation of the former parking lot at Janshof into an attractive urban space is a key component of Brühl’s inner city development. The continuous, barrier-free paving and the reduction to a few design elements create clarity and transparency within the heterogeneous peripheral development.

The concept of “shared space” eliminates the separation between traffic and pedestrians and leads to a significant reduction in driving speeds. The northern side of the square facing the town hall remains car-free and is suitable for outdoor gastronomy, while twenty parking spaces are arranged in the shade of a grove of trees to the south.

The St. Annen Museum in Lübeck is presenting the cabinet exhibition “Traces of the Centuries – On the Restoration of the Gavnø Retable” from June 5 to October 3, 2021 The Gavnø retable is one of the great treasures of the St. Annen Museum in Lübeck. The precious three-winged altarpiece was painted by Jacob van Utrecht around 1515 and has now undergone extensive conservation work for more than a year […]

Lübeck’s St. Annen Museum presents the cabinet exhibition “Traces of the Centuries – On the Restoration of the Gavnø Retable” from June 5 to October 3, 2021

The Gavnø retable is one of the great treasures of the St. Annen Museum in Lübeck. The precious three-winged altarpiece was painted by Jacob van Utrecht around 1515 and has now been undergoing extensive conservation and restoration work for more than a year. The name of the Gavnø retable is derived from its long-time location: Gavnø Castle on the island of the same name in Denmark. Here, the triptych was in the collection of the Danish Minister of State Otto Count Thott (1703-1785) and his family until it was auctioned at Christie’s in London in 1976. In 2011, it was acquired by the St. Annen Museum with funds from the estate of Georg Bartsch and with the help of the Kulturstiftung der Länder. The estate was also used to finance the extensive restoration.

During the restoration work, the restorers at Butt repeatedly uncovered evidence of earlier interventions, revealing a long and eventful restoration history of the 16th century panels. Visitors to Lübeck’s St. Annen Museum now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the restoration history in the cabinet exhibition “Traces of the Centuries – On the Restoration of the Gavnø Retable” and understand the measures and results of the work.

The restoration work, which also includes scientific, technical and artisanal components, represents an exciting starting point for an examination of the altarpiece. For example, the restoration of the old measures makes it possible for the first time to approximate the original appearance of the paintings.

The restoration work

By removing the browned varnish, the altar appears again in its full colorfulness. An underdrawing, which was made visible using an infrared camera, provides new insights into the creation of the retable, which was commissioned by the wealthy Lübeck merchant Hermann Plönnies and his wife Ida. Both are immortalized on the side panels of the triptych, whose central panel shows the Annunciation to Mary.

Microscope images were used to magnify details such as tool marks, craquelure and chipping. Examinations with UV light made retouching, older overpaintings and varnishes visible. And tiny samples from the paint layer provided information about the pigments and binders used as well as the thickness of various layers of paint and varnish.

The Gavnø retable – highlight of the collection

Museum director Dr. Dagmar Täube is delighted: “It is great to be able to present another highlight of the collection, freshly restored, and thus once again highlight the great value of the St. Annen Museum’s collection. Not only the painterly quality of Jacob van Utrecht can now be seen again, but also narrative details such as the stork on the building, the church towers in the background or the swans on the lake are finally recognizable again.

The exhibition can be seen in the St. Annen Museum up to and including October 3. You can get a first insight into the exhibition in the following video: