What if this building could talk? The ehem. SKF-Haus in Essen stands before us. It is not just a building. It is a testament to Essen’s history.
The Haus der Essener Geschichte, or House of Essen History, is a place where the past comes alive. The city of Essen held a Europe-wide competition in 2005. The goal was to find a solution for the city’s archival documents. These documents were stored in various insufficient locations. The competition also aimed to accommodate the city archive’s administration. A public library, an auditorium, and a museum for Essen’s recent history were also planned.
A key requirement was to preserve the Luisenschool. This architectural monument from 1906 was only partially used as a school. The city wanted to keep it as a cultural heritage site. The plan was to integrate the requested facilities into the historic building. The new extension for the archive was designed as a massive four-story building. It fills an urban gap created by wartime destruction. This new building houses 17 rack kilometers of movable rack systems.
The listed Luisenschool building was refurbished to meet historical monument regulations. The groined vaulted hall serves as a common foyer. It welcomes students, guests, and employees of the Haus der Essener Geschichte. This hall is the entrance to the exhibition. The exhibition is located in the former classrooms. Offices for the city archive are also in the former classrooms. The auditorium is near the foyer, facing Bismarkstraße. The reading room and administration are in the quieter extension from the 1950s.
The basement floor, connected to the archive, houses the archival document receiving area and workshops. An air raid shelter, almost untouched since 1945, is part of the exhibition. This exhibit focuses on resistance and persecution during the Third Reich.
The four-story depot building connects to the 1950s extension via a glazed gap. A new lift provides disabled access, balancing elevation differences. The facades of the new archive building are covered in Corteen steel. This material changes over time. It reflects the passage of time and provides a safe-like conserving appearance. Also it is a tribute to Essen’s steelmaking past. The facade’s openings playfully reflect the movable rack systems inside.
Room-high, slanted ventilation openings penetrate the facade. They reduce direct sunlight and aid air circulation due to their positions. The building has an outdoor temperature sensor and meters on each floor. Every floor has cross ventilation and conventional radiators with intelligent regulation. The depot was designed for natural, regulated ventilation. Air conditioning is not necessary.
Construction began in 2006. The Haus der Essener Geschichte was completed in 2010. The project cost 5,230,000. The Haus der Essener Geschichte stands as a testament to Essen’s commitment to preserving its history while embracing the future. It welcomes all to explore and learn from the city’s rich past. The ehem. SKF-Haus has been designated as a heritage site since January 28, 2020.