EBS University

Bronze in UNESCO World Heritage: The new auditorium at EBS University

EBS University in Oestrich-Winkel is a private educational institution specialising in business and law. Located in the Rheingau region, the university is divided into the main campus, ‘Schloss’ (castle), on the border with Hattenheim, and the second campus, ‘Burg’ (fortress). With its rich historical heritage, the main campus has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. In order to meet the growing demand for teaching and recreation rooms, the existing buildings were partially renovated and new buildings were constructed on the main campus.

An auditorium has been built in the former courtyard of Reichartshausen Castle. With an accessible roof terrace and a large glass façade, it offers a high quality of life and workspaces with natural light. The design by Schümann Sunder-Plassmann und Partner mbB in cooperation with Krekeler Architekten Generalplaner GmbH stands out thanks to its modern construction and has been sensitively integrated into the existing building complex. While the clearly structured cubature stands in stark contrast to the castle, the high-quality metallic exterior wall cladding from Kalzip brings modernity and tradition together: the individual panels are arranged in a precise, diamond-shaped pattern – a classic design element of the tinsmith’s craft, which is interpreted here in a contemporary way.

Eine Nahaufnahme vom Dach des Kinderkrankenhauses

Bronze-coloured scale cladding

The existing building, which nestles around the new auditorium, is already covered with a traditional shingle roof. The diamond-shaped slate roofing of the castle roof is repeated and reinterpreted for the forum. The colour scheme of the new building matches the façades of the existing building. The sand-coloured plaster surfaces are gently reflected by the metal shingles in FalZink surface finish in bronze B40.

The company Sima-Bau Siegler from Bürstadt was commissioned to install the Kalzip shingles. Kalzip foldable aluminium can be processed using plumbing techniques for metal wall cladding. The shingles were folded by the fabricator himself. This means that each shingle is unique and can be easily adapted to the specifications. An almost unlimited combination of shapes and sizes also offers planners maximum architectural freedom.

Kai Schümann, Dipl.-Ing. Architect BDA, Schümann Sunder-Plassmann und Partner mbB, also commented on the derivation of the building design: “The new building in the middle of the historic courtyard is the heart of the private EBS University. Compared to the existing building, the Audimax is to recede into the background by sinking the volume of the building into the courtyard. The chosen material is an expression of modernity, while the craftsmanship and the diamond shape enter into dialogue with the historic slate roofing. The play of light on the matt reflective bronze, which changes in daylight, perfectly complements the diagonally scaled façade in refracting the building structure. In combination with the light crystalline sand-coloured lime plaster slurry and the red sandstone walls of the existing building, the matt reflective bronze creates a clear but not too dark contrast. Both surfaces change depending on the angle of incidence and intensity of daylight and come to life.”