The Buxus Foundation, which preserves writings, documents and books on human rights, selected the former cemetery nursery—complete with its heritage-listed funeral hall—at Bochum's Main Cemetery as the home for its new Fritz Bauer Forum. The Bochum-based architecture firm planplus was tasked with the renovation and conversion, completing the complex in two construction phases. The building opened its doors in May 2025.

Both the cemetery nursery and funeral hall required extensive restoration: the exposed concrete façade had deteriorated, sections of the leaded glazing were missing, the roof was overgrown, and the adjacent building bore signs of cracks, water damage and vandalism. "Our vision was to honor the dignity of this place's former purpose while introducing a refined, contemporary design language—transforming it into a dynamic hub for civic engagement," explains architect Dietrich Kanke. Today, the restored funeral hall anchors the complex as its heart, housing the library. A striking two-storey walkable shelving installation punctuates the space, maximizing storage without compromising the room's original presence. Preserving the listed structure while enhancing its energy performance demanded considerable care. Working closely with heritage authorities, the team insulated interior walls above the windows and integrated radiant heating systems. The concrete roof was cleaned, stabilized, re-insulated and sealed. To maintain the striking colored leaded glazing as a focal point, a secondary layer of insulating glass was installed on the interior. The former nursery's external envelope remained largely intact, while its interiors were reimagined to yield flexible, light-saturated spaces. Exposed concrete, untreated steel and ash wood give the ensemble its robust, inviting warmth. The library's luminous concrete façade echoes the main building's broom-finished plaster surfaces. Inside, oxidized steel and pale timber merge new function with the austere, industrial character of the original. Library floors feature durable concrete, while the main building showcases a tinted calcium sulphate screed with matte PUR finish—a contemporary reinterpretation of the funeral hall's raw concrete vocabulary. Acoustical wood-fiber panels enhance the interior climate. Standout spaces include a fireplace room, café and fully equipped screening room for events. Geothermal energy powers the complex; both library and main building are climate-controlled through dedicated ventilation systems.

www.planplusgmbh.de

Photos:
Richard Lensit
www.lensit.photography

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 04|25)