(BDT_09_057) Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Description

The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics provides an example how local, regional, national, and global parameters and developments can be taken into account when planning a research building. When the institute was built, basic medical-biological research in the field of life sciences played a similar role as did physics at the beginning of the 20th century when it stood at the verge of a paradigm change. The institute was founded in Dresden in 1997 as part of the reconstruction programme of the former GDR – subsequent to the German reunification seven years earlier. The location is ideal in terms of future scientific cooperations with Central and Eastern European countries and in terms of support of potentially numerous young scientists in the region. Also, the close proximity to the Clinic of Dresden Technical University promotes cooperation. In the medium term, the institute is expected to produce viable research results attracting new biotech investors and encouraging the foundation of new biotechnical businesses in its vicinity.

The architectural design strives to create a sophisticated work atmosphere fit to support the ambitious, creative work of the scientists. Apart from the required technical functionality of individual work places and apparatuses, the building was also to encourage social interaction. Corridors, shared areas, vertical circulation areas, and even the relatively large laboratory units were designed not only to support social interaction but to make it a downright unavoidable, essential part of everyday life.

The brief called for three functional units. Institute building, animal testing facilities, and guest apartments were arranged linearly on the site of a former tram depot 50 m in width and 270 m in length: Accordingly, the whole complex was divided into many more segments that can be associated with the barcode of a genetic fingerprint. All building volumes are linked by an access route running the entire depth of the site. On the side facing a row of turn-of-the-century villas a landscaped green space is laid out parallel to the site.

The institute building is situated in the northern part of the site and can be easily recognised from Pfotenhauerstraße. Further south follow the animal testing facility, a parking area that constitutes an area for potential future extensions, and the guest apartments including a kindergarten jointly operated with the clinic. The institute building itself consists of two separate five-storey volumes. A full height foyer space is situated in between.

The light-flooded entrance hall acts as a hub for all vertical and horizontal circulation routes. Mainly on the ground floor, it is used intensively as a place of social interaction, for communal lunches, and the exchange of scientific ideas. The large space contains a number of shared facilities such as a cafeteria, restaurant, reading gallery, seminar rooms, and a spiral stair without losing its splendid spatial qualities. The foyer also provides direct access to common facilities, for example the library, auditorium, administration, kitchen, and workshops.

The typological layout of the floor plans results from the subdivision of the institute in up to 32 independent and self-sustained scientific research teams. Each team can dispose of a large laboratory space of approx. 80 m² which is equipped to suit molecular biological and partly also wet preparation works. Four such large laboratories on each floor respectively form a so-called ”home base”. They largely lack individual offices or studies and are instead fitted with writing desks positioned near the windows and acoustically separated from the main space by glazed partitions. This arrangement ensures constant flux between theory and experiment. Single offices have been allocated only at the northern and southern gable ends. ”Think cells” within the library provide spaces for concentrated work.

The layout of interior circulation and functional zones follows the principle that new ideas and scientific success can only be achieved through a vivid, sometimes random exchange of ideas. The design attempts not to confine the scientists to secluded, isolated laboratory cells or ”think cells” but to encourage active and critical exchange by means of corridors and circulation paths that support meetings. Their generous dimensions, a number of attractive views, seats and bays at crossing paths invite the users to linger and communicate.

Both building volumes comprise two access corridors on all upper floors with nearly symmetrically laid out functional areas. The central dark zone consists of common special laboratories for analysis, cell culture, and microscopy.

Altogether, the institute has a capacity of about 300 work places for scientists. The technical building comprises two storeys for animal keeping and a plant room basement. Exterior walkways provide access to the 18 guest apartments that can be combined to form 2-bedroom flats.

The exterior of the complex is dominated by the structure and colour scheme of the façades. At its gable ends the reinforced concrete frame structure is clad with bright blue aluminium panels. The plant rooms at roof level form prominent sculptural volumes. The most striking feature, however, are the fixed exterior solar protection blinds consisting of a fine green aluminium mesh. Depending on the viewpoint of the onlooker, the mesh and the blue façade behind generate unique iridescent effects that stick in one’s memory.