/// At tower - WS 2000/2001
/// Culinary delight
/// Visiting prof. Alan Brookes

Site

The "Tall Tower", also named "Powdertower", has been the highest building of the second town wall of Aachen. It is dating from the 14th century, built on a hill and designed as fire station and watchtower with good view.
The name "Powdertower" is going back to a time in which the tower was temporarily being used as storeroom for gunpowder.
Today the site seems to be a green island which is enclosed by two streets belonging to the outer ring road.

Subject

The subject was to develope a building on the extended site beside the "Tall Tower" which would contain an education facility for cooks and a restaurant. Additionally the participants should be given the possibility to stay over night.

Concept

The site is characterized by its old stock of trees and its privileged view over Aachen.
Counteracting to this is the influence of the traffic noise coming from the Towerstreet in the back of the site.

These conditions are taken as starting point. An extended volume is containing the rooms for the night. Formally the volume refers to the city wall once passing here and is used as noise protection for the rest of the site. The wooden front fits into the natural mood. The kitchen and the restaurant are made of glass and are positioned right below the treetops providing a great view over the town. A third volume is standing below the restaurant surrounded by water. It can be used as flexible room for conferences.