Ever seen a giant glass eye gazing down at Leipzig? That’s the Oscar Niemeyer Sphere. It’s not just any sphere. It’s the last architectural design by the legendary Oscar Niemeyer himself. Perched atop a historic brick building this concrete and glass marvel is almost twelve meters in diameter.
The story begins with Ludwig Koehne. He’s a young Oxford graduate. In 1994 he took over a struggling heavy machinery factory in Leipzig. He transformed it into a global leader. During a trip to Brazil Koehne was inspired by Niemeyer’s work. He dreamed of adding a Niemeyer-designed structure to his factory. He wanted a special space for events. He also wanted to entice his talented international chef to stay.
Koehne contacted the 104-year-old Niemeyer in 2011. Sadly Niemeyer passed away the following year. But he’d already sketched out the basic design of this stunning sphere. Niemeyer’s closest collaborator Jair Valera worked with German architect Harald Kern. They finalized the plans. Finding companies skilled enough to create the complex glass elements proved challenging. But they succeeded. Construction began in April 2017 and finished in June 2020. The cost was around three million euros.
The sphere’s outer shell is 20 centimeters of white exposed concrete. It’s insulated inside. Two large curved window areas are made of 144 triangular glass panes. Fifty wooden molds were handcrafted for the concrete. The glass panes can be darkened instantly. This controls light and heat. The technology is from Merck. A Dutch company produced the special glass. The sphere seems to float on the building’s edge. It’s supported by a red steel shaft matching the brick building’s color.
The sphere has three floors. The bottom floor houses the building’s technical equipment. The middle floor is a cafe or bar around 45 square meters. A curved staircase leads to the main space. This is a 91-square-meter lounge on the sphere’s equator level. A tiled wall hides the service area. It features an Oscar Niemeyer drawing of a beach scene. The lounge has access to a rooftop terrace.
The sphere boasts a sophisticated internal lighting system. It can be illuminated from outside. This makes it seem to float in the dark. It’s designed for private events and celebrations. Guests move freely instead of sitting at fixed tables.
The city of Leipzig renamed a nearby street Niemeyerstrasse in honor of this incredible project. Ludwig Koehne received the Karl-Heine-Prize for realizing this project. The Techne Kirow GmbH received the Saxon Industrial Culture Prize for the Niemeyer Sphere. They donated the prize money to charity. This sphere is more than just a building. It is a testament to collaboration. It is a lasting legacy to a brilliant architect’s vision. It is a unique piece of Leipzig’s landscape. And it’s a must-see for anyone visiting this amazing city.