Mensa Moltke Canteen in Karlsruhe, Germany by J. Mayer H. Architects

The Mensa Moltke Canteen is an essential new cornerstone in the identity of the Karlsruhe college campus and the Baden-Württemburg state, which from its inception has attracted local and international attention. The canteen will serve a place for disciplines can meet, eat and exchange ideas.

The canteen itself is composed of a generous, high and bright dining hall to the south and a compact functional area to the north, containing kitchens, storage and services.

The cost effective and sustainable construction of the building consists of a solid internal concrete core surrounded by a structural polyurethane coated wooden network of columns carrying the roof and façade. This technology has until now been used almost exclusively in the restoration of flat roofing systems as well as multi storey car parks and bridges. Being both waterproof and breathable, the polyurethane allows the laminated wooden construction underneath to breathe.

The vertical glazing of the façade openings is held vertically on both sides and contains permanent elastic horizontal expansion joints. The adjoins of the glazed areas are bordered in profiles which protrude slightly from the surface of the façade. The load bearing verticals are internally grounded into the wooden structure.

Architects: J. MAYER H. Architects
Project Team: Juergen Mayer H., Andre Santer, Julia Neitzel, Sebastian Finckh, Wilko Hoffmann, Marcus Blum
Client: Vermoegen und Bau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Amt Karlsruhe
Constructed Area: 3,500 sq
Architect on site: Ulrich Wiesler
Multidisciplinary Engineers: ARUP GmbH
Landscape Architects: Karl Bauer, Karlsruhe
Photographs: David Franck