The Forum Wasserturm is a well-known cultural institution in Meerbusch with a top-class music and cabaret program. The historic backyard hall from 1912, overlooked by the eponymous water tower, also has a café on the street. What was missing until now, however, was an attractive foyer that serves as an entrance to the event hall.

The commissioned office RKW Architektur + from Düsseldorf designed a rather small building with a usable area of 100 m2, which is all the more surprising on the inside. The narrow connecting building adjoins the existing wall to the neighborhood and opens up with a wide glass front to the inner courtyard, which continues to offer itself as a lounge in warmer temperatures. A double-leaf entrance door made of anodized aluminium clearly marks the new main entrance to the foyer, which is connected to the hall and the café at its respective ends. The interior design of the foyer is surprising both in terms of design and function: aesthetically, a raw exposed concrete rear wall, a bright, smooth screed and a reflective ceiling made of perforated stainless steel sheets with recessed LED lines provide contrasts and reflections. In addition, three pieces of built-in furniture were developed to cleverly conceal the building supports - including a multifunctional reception counter that can be used as a small bar area for event breaks thanks to integrated drinks fridges and heavy-duty drawers for drinks crates. The two outer pieces of furniture not only serve as checkrooms, but can also be used as exhibition areas on their rear sides. 

www.rkw.plus

Photos:

Wolfgang Grümer
www.gruemerfoto.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|22)