The inner courtyard next to the chamber music hall and the auditorium in building A11 has been shining in new splendour for several months now. Thanks to an extensive lighting concept and new planting, the space invites you to linger.
Lush greenery. Warm white lighting. A large treble clef made of light is emblazoned on the floor. Anyone entering the inner courtyard here is immersed in a fairytale world. It took four months to build this special meeting place on the Haarentor campus.
In order to create a place to linger and contemplate in all seasons, the university had the entire area remodelled last year. "The surrounding building dates back to 1966, and following the renovation of the Chamber Music Hall, Lecture Hall B and the auditorium, it was time to make the courtyard more appealing," explains Carsten Steinbrenner from the university's building management department, which carried out the measures on its own behalf.
One highlight of the redesigned courtyard on Ammerländer Heerstraße is the light installation: various surge lights attached to wire cables above the courtyard project different motifs onto the floor. If you want, you can look at a circle of fifths or stroll across musical notes.
"The projection invites you to try things out and establishes a connection to what takes place in the building, namely the musical and artistic education of students and - in normal operation - concerts and events," says Anne Tapken-Willenborg. The lighting planner designed the projected motifs especially for the project and realised them for the university.
But it's not just the floor that is highlighted by the lighting: There are further light sources above the courtyard that can be switched on separately. "In addition to the projector, each luminaire has two further spotlights to highlight the plants," explains Tapken-Willenborg.
Thanks to the artfully staged light, the new planting also comes into view at dusk. And where there was previously wild growth, green spaces have now been created. Ground cover, perennials and grasses convey the feeling of immersing yourself in a jungle. "The planted species grow at different speeds and bloom at different times of the year, so that the courtyard looks attractive and interesting all year round," explains Oliver Kilian, the landscape architect responsible for the project. The two large hornbeams, which were taken over from the previous stand, continue to take centre stage.
Visitors walk through the greenery on large concrete slabs. They imitate a footpath that connects the two entrances to the courtyard. Benches, tables and stools provide space for longer breaks. "With the redesign, we wanted to offer students in particular an additional space. They can study and socialise here in a quiet atmosphere," says Steinbrenner. The newly designed courtyard will also be an eye-catcher for visitors to the auditorium and chamber music hall when they can once again listen to music and theatre performances on campus.
