Cologne-based architecture firm JSWD has extended a 1960s town hall with interlocking structures and perforated brick façade in Brühl, Germany.

Called Brühl City Hall and Library, the 5,200-square-metre project includes a new construction of the library and refurbishment of the old City Hall.

New entrance at the pedestrian zone. Image © Taufik Kenan

JSWD won the first prize in a competition to built this project in 2017. The competition's goals were to design a proposal for the nearby Janshof Square and to propose an addition to the current town hall. An expansion constructed in the 1960s had to be replaced as part of the renovation.

Staggered gables of the new library with partially perforated brickwork. Image © Christa Lachenmaier

Connecting the new structure to the historic town hall and then refurbishing it in accordance with heritage regulations presented a unique task. 

The end product is an easily accessible, energy-efficient town hall that satisfies the most recent regulations. It is made to allow for flexible use and to connect different building functions to create synergies.

Aerial photo with Brühl Castle in the backygroundAerial photo with Brühl Castle in the backyground. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Above the civil registry offices (Bürgeramt and Standesamt) are the municipal authorities' offices. The new building has the municipal library on all floors, including a children's library in the basement that leads to a reading courtyard. 

The town hall is easy to find thanks to its clear signage. The pedestrian area and the now mostly car-free Janshof are also accessible from the new foyer. From here, the roads of tourists and pedestrians that enter the old structure through Markt meet.

Aerial view: staggered gables of the new library in the middle of the town. Image © Schmitz.Reichard GmbH

The new structure in Brühl's old city center experiments with the concept of various urban areas and proportions. The front structure creates a cubature that is both distinctive and typical of the area by referencing the shape of the historic town hall. 

The brickwork is somewhat perforated to filter light entering the underneath windows, and the three interlocking structures are placed with their gables facing the nearby street. The new building's cubic impression is reinforced by the use of the same light-colored bricks for the roof and facade.

Historical council chamber. Image © Christa Lachenmaier

The project's goal is to be as sustainable as feasible. For instance, the company made every effort to preserve the old building's structure. 

Children's library at the reading courtyard. Image © Christa Lachenmaier

A combined heat and power plant provides both heat and energy. Concrete component activation ensures reduced energy consumption in addition to triple-glazed windows, abundant natural light, and exterior solar protection.

Staircase in the listed city hall. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Library room on the top floor. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Large dormer of the library. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Reading area in the dormer window. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Connection of the new library to the listed town hall. Image © Taufik Kenan

The listed city hall of Brühl, restored by JSWD. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

View of the inner courtyard of the library. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Library dormers and staggered gables with partially perforated brickwork. Image © Franco Casaccia / JSWD

Site plan

Basement floor plan

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Second floor plan

Third floor plan

Detail drawing

Façade detail

Project facts

Project name: Brühl City Hall and Library

Program: New construction of the Library and Refurbishment of the old City Hall

Location: Steinweg 1, 50321 Brühl, Germany

Client: City of Brühl

Architecture: JSWD, 1st prize competition 2017

Completion: 2023

Structural design: Kempen Krause Ingenieure Aachen

Building service engineering: DEERNS

Library and interior planning: UKW Innenarchitekten, Krefeld

Landscape: RMPSL, Bonn

Site: 4,800m2

GFA: 5,200m2

The top image in the article: New library of Brühl, Entrance from the Janshof. Image © Taufik Kenan. 

All drawings © JSWD.

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extension JSWD perforated façade