Heidelberg Congress Center

Design Team：Degelo Architekten
Size： 29500 m²   
Location：Heidelberg, Germany

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Feature：

Project - Heidelberg's first major dedicated congress and convention venue has arrived courtesy of Basel-based Degelo Architekten. The Heidelberg Congress Center is a characterful building that appears compact and plain from the exterior, belying a complex and multifaceted interior design. The sandstone facade's vertical, waved structure gives the impression of a theater curtain, with interplays of light and shadow providing an airy lightness to the solid stone. Traditional stonemason's charring techniques were digitally honed to create this unique textured surface. In contrast, the smooth, polished entrance recesses reveal the yellow marbling of the local Neckar Valley sandstone. Inside, the minimal exterior gives way to light-filled, almost dematerialized spaces centered around the soaring 20-meter-high entrance foyer and vaulted "central hall." This flexible main event space can host up to 1,800 people and features elliptical skylights that make the concrete ceiling appear draped like fabric, continuing the curtain motif. Artful daylighting and shadows further sculpt the interiors, along with playful elements like the hand-blown glass "soap bubble" lamps. Degelo's design achieves an intriguing interchange between low and high, close and wide spaces across the adaptable layout. With its striking facade concealing a bright, flexible events venue, the Heidelberg Congress Center adds a distinctive new presence to the city's Bahnstadt district.

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Design Team - Founded in 2005 by architect Heinrich Degelo, the Basel-based Degelo Architekten has emerged as one of Switzerland's most acclaimed architectural practices. Under Degelo's direction, the firm has garnered praise for its innovative yet pragmatic design solutions that balance conceptual rigor with quality craftsmanship and environmental sustainability. The firm's portfolio showcases a diverse range of projects, from residential dwellings and adaptive reuse interventions to large-scale urban developments and institutional works. Notable commissions include the award-winning conversion of the University Library in Freiburg and the ongoing renovation of the St. Jakobshalle convention center in Basel. What distinguishes Degelo's work is a commitment to timeless design articulated through surprisingly simple yet highly functional architectural responses. The firm excels at maximizing a site's inherent potential while creating spaces tailored to the client's unique needs and aspirations. Degelo prioritizes an integrated design approach, fostering close collaboration between all stakeholders from the earliest stages. With a dynamic team of 15 professionals, Degelo Architekten continues to push boundaries through architecture that seamlessly weds inspired concepts with pragmatic, environmentally conscious execution. Their recognition on prestigious lists like Baunetz's Top 100 firms underscores their reputation as leaders in contemporary Swiss architecture.