Vorplatz und Glasfassade der Cafeteria des IZS, Stuttgart.

All-round solution

Renovation of the IZS cafeteria

In the morning in Germany, in Stuttgart to be precise. Employees of the Institute Center are crowding in the new cafeteria. Comprising five Fraunhofer institutes and another five affiliated partner institutes of the University of Stuttgart, the Fraunhofer Institute Center (Fraunhofer IZS) is one of the largest research hubs in Germany. The quadrupling of staff numbers necessitated an expansion of the cafeteria.

Having become outdated both in terms of function and design, the building was completely restructured in the guest area to provide more seating and greater flexibility of use. This involved demolishing the seating area of the cafeteria on the ground floor and integrating a new, open café landscape below the subsequently built canteen on the upper floor, which is formally differentiated from the existing building by its curved design.

Vorplatz und Glasfassade der Cafeteria des IZS, Stuttgart.
Ecke mit grauer Wand, runden Tischen und Deckenelementen im Cafeteria des IZS in Stuttgart. Cafeteria mit grünen Wänden, einer Glastrennwand, runden Deckenelementen und Tischgruppen des IZS, Stuttgart.

The existing load-bearing structure and building services were used and integrated in the structural intervention wherever possible; the kitchen and ancillary rooms were adequate for their purpose, while both the serving counter and the delivery area had to be extended. In addition to optimising the functional requirements and increasing the seating capacity, the primary aim was to create a space for informal communication between employees with different sojourn qualities between communication and retreat — a place where people feel at ease and can recharge their batteries in the strenuous everyday research activities.

The differentiated room zones are formally connected by circular acoustic panels. The elements with different diameters are suspended from the ceiling at varying heights and form an artificial sky with alternating white and green circles that add a fresh colourful touch to the interior.

Cafeteria mit grünen Wänden, einer Glastrennwand, runden Deckenelementen und Tischgruppen des IZS, Stuttgart.
Cafeteria mit grünen Wänden, einer Glastrennwand, runden Deckenelementen und Tischgruppen des IZS, Stuttgart. Detail

  • Project type

    Conversion
    Extension

  • Purpose

    Hospitality

  • GFA

    468 m²

  • Project status

    Completed

  • Period

    2016 – 2018

  • Construction cost

    1,580,000 €

  • Service phases

    2 – 8 (HOAI)

  • Project team

    Hendrik Rieger
    Jens Kärcher
    Jorge Gonzalez
    Meredith Atkinson
    Kay Frahm