Cottbus Library

The imposing Cottbus Library has an amoeba-like footprint and a glazed glass façade that is covered in repetitive white text and images.  The neutral-colored approach is only partially brought inside.  The most notable change is the large, curving staircase – which is 6 meters across – is painted in eye-popping pink and green. 

The building’s unique asymmetrical shape may appear arbitrary, but is actually a purposeful configuration of many different flows of movement, determined by models that worked out the sequences and tested their quality.

The structure was designed by Herzog & De Meuron for the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, which was founded in 1991 following the reunification of Germany.