Mensa Karlsruhe - Student Canteen, Karlsruhe
New Building for the Hochschule Karlsruhe – Technik und Wirtschaft, Paedagogische Hochschule and Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kunste



J. MAYER H. Architects
Project Team: Juergen Mayer H., Andre Santer, Julia Neitzel, Sebastian Finckh, Wilko Hoffmann, Marcus Blum
Competition Team: Juergen Mayer H., Dominik Schwarzer, Wilko Hoffmann, Ingmar Schmidt, Daria Trovato, Sebastian Finckh,
Concept-Schema Nutellagram: Jan-Christoph Stockebrand

International Competition: 2004
Project: 2005-06
Completion: 2007
Client: Vermoegen und Bau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Amt Karlsruhe
User: Studentenwerk Karlsruhe



The “Mensa Karlsruhe” is an elastic space, sitting in the centre of the Karlsruhe University Campus. As an extension of the already existing facilities, the canteen will serve a growing number of students. The building is set to become the new fulcrum of the campus, negotiating between the identities of three universities as well as between the urban fabric and the Hardtwald forest. Different levels of porosity within the building react to this specific condition.



Modern Architects

Architect on Site: Ulrich Wiesler
Multidisciplinary Engineers: ARUP GmbH
Multidisciplinary Engineers Construction Manager: H. M. Jicha, Neidenstein
Kitchen Engineers: Martin Scherer, Darmstadt
Building Physics: Dr. Schaecke und Bayer
Landscape Architect: Karl Bauer, Karlsruhe

Concrete Construction: Bilfinger Berger AG, Mannheim
Timber Construction: Finnforest Merk GmbH, Aichach
Facade: Rupert App GmbH & Co, Leutkirch
Polyurethan-Coating: BASF Construction Chemicals, Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Realization: Reaku-Hobein GmbH, Ueberlingen



Photographer: David Franck, Ostfildern

The Concept-Model is part of the Permanent Collection of Museum of Modern Art, NY

Function: Student center / student canteen for 3 universities at the center of Karlsruhe university campus, Moltkestrasse 12, Karlsruhe
Site area: 6000 m2
Building area: 2022 m2
Total floor Area: 2355 m2
Number of floors: 2
Height of the building: 11 m
Structure: concrete and timber
Principal Exterior: timber and glass
Principal interior material: concrete and timber
Designing period: 09/03 – 12/04
Construction period: 12/04 – 01/07
Photographer: David Franck, Ostfildern
Cost: 5,5 M Euro



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German Buildings

German Architect Offices

Mensa Karlsruhe : Jürgen Mayer H Architects

J. MAYER H. Architekten : Seville building

German museum building : Folkwang Museum, Essen

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Mensa Karlsruhe - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt