Quartiersentwicklung Jüdenstraße

Based on the magnificent existing building at Jüdenstraße 5, the reconstruction of the perimeter block development on Jüdenstraße and Kleine Kalandstraße, and a single-storey courtyard structure, the new library encloses the central reading garden. The publicly accessible, intensively landscaped library garden forms the heart of the new city library as a place with a high quality of leisure and is at the same time the defining centre of the Jüdenstraße quarter in Weißenfels. The new buildings on the edges of the block are simplified reconstructions on the foundations of the derelict or already demolished existing buildings in a timber frame construction. The buildings in the inner courtyard consist of solid perimeter walls made of pounded clay and a lightweight timber construction. The existing building at Jüdenstraße 5, which has been restored in great detail, contrasts with the facades of the new buildings, which have been reduced to the essential features of their previous structures, and will in future be seen as the true ‘face’ of the new library.

Pounded clay and wood are the main materials used in the construction of all new parts of the city library. This gives the heterogeneous structures of the new building ensemble something in common and makes them resemble each other. The perimeter block and interior block can thus be interpreted as a simple building structure. This makes it easier for the city's residents to find their way around both the Jüdenstraße quarter and the building itself. The clarity and simplicity achieved as a result helps to establish the new library as a citizen-oriented centre for information and communication and to achieve an essential goal of urban planning and urban redevelopment in the old town. The modestly designed new elements form a stark contrast to the richly decorated existing building at Jüdenstraße 5. In future, this building will become the landmark of the new city library on Jüdenstraße. The open-plan, relatively large window elements on the corner of the block facing Kleine Kalandstraße refer to the side entrance to the library located on this street and the pedestrian connection to Weißenfels railway station. The remaining entrance gate of what was once the narrowest house in the city at Kleine Kalandstraße 6 provides permanent access to the inner courtyard. This means that, as requested, the reading garden can also be used by the citizens of Weißenfels outside the library's opening hours.