Extension of Unterallgäu District Office, Mindelheim

The district of Unterallgäu intends to expand the premises of the district administration on the site of the existing district office in Mindelheim. A personnel development and space requirements forecast for the district office shows a need for 320 additional office workstations, taking into account the effects of digitalisation and the return of external offices. The growing demand for space will be met in three construction phases. Furthermore, the extension will integrate quality outdoor areas, blending harmoniously into the ensemble of existing buildings.

With the expansion, the district office of Unterallgäu will also gain a new address in the new square, offering services to local residents and users. The history of the place will continue, adding new chapters. The existing structure will be embraced and logically continued. A clear sequence of dominant east-west aligned block buildings and subordinate connectors divides the surrounding outdoor space into well-utilised sections and forms clusters around two courtyards. In terms of texture and size, the new building blends into the surrounding environment.

The first phase of the extension already forms a clear address. The newly created forecourt stretches between the entrance to the clinic and the entrance to the district office, leading intuitively into the foyer. This space is two storeys high, spanning between the old and new buildings, and allows views through to the greenery of the public courtyard. A sculptural staircase leads over gallery levels to the representative new council chamber. The so-called “Inner Street” connects the upper floors of the adjacent office levels and provides short routes throughout the building. Inside the blocks, the sustainable timber construction forms fire-protection-related units. In the rational skeleton structure, communicative and transparent workspaces are possible, without enclosed corridors, and the flexible layout allows for easy adaptation to future changes.

Building further | Staggering

The expansion follows a logical sequence over several construction phases, starting from the existing structure, stepping eastward and continuing. The existing building serves as the beginning of the sequence. Additionally, the building is harmoniously complemented and completed by the new construction. Throughout all the construction phases, the new building conveys a sense of scale, ranging from the large volume of the new clinic to the surrounding residential buildings, stepping down from west to east. It adapts in height to the eaves heights of the neighbouring buildings. Through projections and recesses at the gable ends, the new building aligns with the adjacent small-scale residential development in the north and south.

Shared forecourt | Inner Street

The newly created forecourt stretches between the entrance to the new clinic and the entrance to the district office. It is used and enlivened by both passers-by and employees and visitors of both institutions. A variety of seating areas under trees invite people to linger. In the peripheral areas, the forecourt accommodates dispersed parking spaces. The square can be flexibly used for events such as markets. A kiosk and fountains integrated into the square help structure the space, providing life and atmosphere.

The Inner Street forms the backbone of the main circulation within the district office of Unterallgäu. From the main entrance at the forecourt, the foyer marks the start of the Inner Street. This corridor quickly connects all parts of the building. All significant larger rooms with high public traffic, such as meeting and seminar rooms, are lined along it. This creates clear and easy orientation within the building. Through an atmospheric interplay of tight and open spaces, short routes lead throughout the building. Future expansions will be easily integrated.