Munich, Berlin and Beijing-based architecture practice HENN has won a design competition to design a museum in Mannheim, Germany. 

Called German Language Forum (Forum Deutsche Sprache), the 4,800-square-metre building was selected in a design competition organized by the Klaus Tschira Foundation.

HENN conceived of the German Language Forum as an open and communicative space, where the ephemeral experience of language could be made tangible through exhibitions, discussion and research

The Forum will house the Leibniz Institute for the German Language (IDS) and function as both a living language laboratory and a language museum, exploring the role of German in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein and parts of Belgium. 

“Today, linguistic research is to a large extent a data-driven science. The German Language Forum will not only give all sections of the population low-threshold access to a wealth of knowledge about the German language, but will also actively involve people in linguistic research,” said Carsten Könneker, Managing Director of the Klaus Tschira Foundation.

Project facts

Year: 2021
Typology: Museum
Client: Klaus Tschira Stiftung GmbH
Location: Mannheim, DE
Area GFA: 4,800 m2
Program: Exhibition, Research, Offices, Cafe
Status: Competition, 1st Prize
Consultants: Buro Happold (Structure, Facade, Technical Building Services) and nees Ingenieure GmbH (Fire Protection), Latz + Partner

Team

Partner in Charge: Martin Henn Project 

Director: Armin Nemati