Main Lecture Hall of the Technical University of Saxony - Anhalt

The original competition proposal presented a flexible structure that enabled the subsequent development of the entire university campus. The building also formed a grand entrance to a structurally enclosed ensemble of lecture halls and a library. However, only the part with the lecture halls was realized, reduced by a full third.
The set of lecture rooms also includes a spacious entrance area located on the ground floor directly under the pair of large lecture halls on the upper floor. The floors in the lecture halls, which follow the rising rows of seats, can be perceived on the ground floor as sloping ceilings. Despite the great depth of the layout, there is plenty of natural light in the foyer, thanks to vertical strips equipped with roof skylights. Unlike many other large university buildings, the internal atmosphere here is sufficiently bright. The two large lecture halls in the middle of the layout are also not "black boxes" and have natural overhead lighting. Another dominant element, not only in the interior, is the intense color of the walls and ceilings, which does not correspond to the original intent. The idea was born only during construction out of the need to avoid excessive austerity and also impressions from the architect Meinhard von Gerkans' journey through Mexico. The cheapest material for finishing large surfaces of walls and ceilings was plaster, and the paint was almost free.
Visits to Barragan's and Legorreta's buildings provided inspiration for achieving remarkable strength using the simplest means. The very bold use of colors was, among other things, a response to the gray bleakness of the area with scattered panel housing. The building is a prime example of simplicity and economy taken to the smallest detail. The structure is also an example of economic responsibility - it was realized deep below the original budget. In the design process, all decisions were subordinated to the question of finances.