Twenty years ago, Cologne's new Rheinenergiestadion was completed in time for the 2006 World Cup. The stadium in Müngersdorf, which seats around 50,000 spectators, is the home stadium of 1. FC Köln, among others. Since last year, it has also had an event lounge: under the name "Club '78", the Cologne office Gaarko Gablik Architektur has converted a former press area and staged it in a completely new way. Modern design meets emotion and innovation as well as a particularly glorious year in the club's history.

The year 1978 brought FC Köln a double win under its legendary coach Hennes Weisweiler: after winning the DFB Cup, the team also secured the German championship. This extremely brilliant club year served as inspiration not only for the name, but also for the design of the event lounge, which was to be set up in a former, completely windowless press room. The aim was to transform the rather oppressive atmosphere of the room into a place of community, encounters and light, while also making it as flexible as possible for a wide variety of event formats - both during and outside of match days. The ceiling sculpture consisting of over 200 individually controllable light panels appears like a skylight in the room. Inspired by the dynamic impact of a ball on goal, it reflects the pulsating rhythm of the game by combining acoustic impact with visual dynamism. The panels can be illuminated in different colors and formations, depending on the desired atmosphere and the occasion - from a sporting event to an atmospheric, glamorous 70s club night. The functional and visual focal point is the elegant, sparkling black round counter, which connects all areas of the room centrally. The curved shapes also run through the furniture, which offers a wide variety of communicative situations with bar tables, classic table settings and a framing seating snake with separate areas. Angled supports and curves in the black ceiling break up rigid, static structures and create a softer, more inviting environment. The restrained color scheme of the walls contributes to the fact that the attention in the room is focused entirely on the ceiling, which makes "Club '78" a unique place to experience.

www.gaarko.de

Photos:
Sandra Eberz Photography
www.sandraeberz-fotografie.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 01|25)