When Meinhard von Gerkan passed away in November 2022, his family faced the challenge of preserving and presenting his vast body of work. They found the perfect setting in his architecture salon on Elbchaussee, completed in 2015. Working closely with the family, Formwaende Büro für Innenarchitektur und Design from Lüneburg designed and realized this media library—a fitting tribute to the architect's legacy.

Through close examination of the architect's life and work, a defining philosophy emerged: rigorous, understated, and rational design principles. Notably absent was any sense of formalism—instead, his work was marked by conceptual rigor, refined aesthetics, and atmospheric depth. These principles proved so coherent and compelling that they became the foundation for the media library's design. Its spatial organization draws directly from the salon's floor plan, while construction details, material choices, and formal gestures echo elements found throughout the building's facade and interior. The result feels unmistakably connected to his architectural DNA. Four distinct zones—defined by freestanding installations—range in character from open and communicative to intimate and contemplative. A compact cinema with integrated storage and a discrete workspace for the extensive slide archive gives way to a library featuring open shelving for oversized volumes. Beyond lies an inviting reception area, complete with work surfaces and display zones. The sequence concludes with a dedicated room housing the substantial plan cabinet containing von Gerkan's hand-drawn designs.

Every cabinet follows the same organizational logic: layered surfaces with varying ratios of concealed storage to open display. Inspired by the screen-printed panels that von Gerkan himself used to craft furniture, the fixtures are veneered in richly stained maple. Generous curves—rendered at a generous scale—impart visual elegance while subtly referencing the salon's radial floor plan. Black magnetic strips serve a dual purpose: they accommodate labeling while formally delineating each layer of the stacked construction. The media library operates as an extension of the building itself, with von Gerkan remaining its defining presence. Every design decision flows from a single principle: honoring what he left behind for future generations.

www.formwaende.de

Photography:
Fred Dott
www.freddott.de

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 03|24)