Market Hall

The project for a market hall on Färberplatz (Dyers’ Square in Aarau occupies the long lane between the inner and outer walled rings of the old town at the highly frequented passageway from the Graben (Ditch) to the Schultheissenhöfli (Mayor’s Square). The crooked street space widening to the north is structured by the new building into varying spaces: the lane Zwischen den Toren (Between the Gates) gains a closure with the building toward the northeast, the widening becomes the forecourt of the public building. Simultaneously, the passageway from the Graben to the inner old town is maintained by the new façade. The hall itself traces the design of an organic city in its outer shape an forms the two side lanes along the walls` rings. Behind, the building leaves a space for a small square with trees inviting passersby to pause and relax under the chestnuts at a distance from the activity at the front. The new hall’s unusual construction of numerous, nearly flush, wooden ribs defines a clearly delineated building volume within the street space, lending it architectural form. In looking at the building from an obtuse angle, its slim tall posts close to present a unified building surface. If, on the other hand, the façade is viewed vertically, one can look right through the hall. Simultaneously, when viewed from the inside, the construction becomes a sheath for the roofed square that thus itself becomes an inside space. The central column organizes interior space and, with its strong presence, lends a special accent. In the importance of its spatial and constructional idea, the column is substantially the central element of the design. The Douglas fir has been stained with natural oil that mingles with the coppery pigments. Thus the construction is protected while its color conforms more strongly to its old town location. Simultaneously the metallic coloring creates an iridescent effect when the hall is viewed from various angles and lends it a more noble character. In its design,the market hall is reminiscent of the medieval spaces with which we are familiar from granaries or arsenals. In nonetheless an expression of our time within the organic structure of the city.