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TUM Tower

Status:

Concept

Date:

2019 -

Site:

Garching research campus, Munich, Germany

Size:

11,700 sqm

Client:

Technical University of Munich

Project Lead Architect:

Francis Kéré

Design Team:

Ho-Jae Lee, Juan-Carlos Zapata, Kinan Deeb, Jerome Byrne, Jeanne Autran-Edorh

Contributors:

Barabara Schudok

At the start of 2019, Kéré Architecture was commissioned to design a multi-use civic centre at the heart of the Technical University of Munich’s Garching research campus. Complementing the science facilities, this new central hub aims to promote cross-pollination between the public, faculty, alumni, students and researchers of various disciplines. 

The design explores the organic and flexible possibilities of geometric forms, starting from the simple square. The TUM Tower includes a 360° view of the campus, possible given the 22,5° rotation of a squared plan around a core axis. Acting as a landmark visible from afar, the TUM Tower brings the form of the campus’s functional architecture to new light. It playfully evokes both the essence and shape of the Bavarian maypole or Maibaum tradition – an annual celebration of communal gathering around a soaring tree-like structure. 

Each floor features multiple terraces, providing quiet respite and gathering areas within the TUM Tower. Each terrace is brought to life by the green façade, which serves as the building’s natural climatisation system. During the spring and summer months, the vegetation will be at its densest and protect each floor’s full-glass façade. In the winter, as the façade vegetation thins, it will allow the sun’s warmth to permeate the interior. 

The tower’s east entry is marked by a central garden and outdoor amphitheatre. The garden is elevated using the old platform infrastructure of the defunct campus cafeteria and integrates a landscape design following the desired direction of foot traffic.

At the start of 2019, Kéré Architecture was commissioned to design a multi-use civic centre at the heart of the Technical University of Munich’s Garching research campus. Complementing the science facilities, this new central hub aims to promote cross-pollination between the public, faculty, alumni, students and researchers of various disciplines. 

The design explores the organic and flexible possibilities of geometric forms, starting from the simple square. The TUM Tower includes a 360° view of the campus, possible given the 22,5° rotation of a squared plan around a core axis. Acting as a landmark visible from afar, the TUM Tower brings the form of the campus’s functional architecture to new light. It playfully evokes both the essence and shape of the Bavarian maypole or Maibaum tradition – an annual celebration of communal gathering around a soaring tree-like structure. 

Each floor features multiple terraces, providing quiet respite and gathering areas within the TUM Tower. Each terrace is brought to life by the green façade, which serves as the building’s natural climatisation system. During the spring and summer months, the vegetation will be at its densest and protect each floor’s full-glass façade. In the winter, as the façade vegetation thins, it will allow the sun’s warmth to permeate the interior. 

The tower’s east entry is marked by a central garden and outdoor amphitheatre. The garden is elevated using the old platform infrastructure of the defunct campus cafeteria and integrates a landscape design following the desired direction of foot traffic.

Façade of the TUM Tower. Render by Kéré Architecture.
Section of the TUM Tower.
Aerial view of TUM Tower. Render by Kéré Architecture.
Axonometry of the TUM Tower.
Interior of TUM Tower. Render by Kéré Architecture.
Floor plan of the TUM Tower.
Model of the TUM Tower.
Model of the TUM Tower.
Model of the TUM Tower.