096 Balloon Shed

The balloon hangar is one of the main witnesses to the remarkable history of the Eckstein Barracks and the military ballooning that took place on the site. The scale and height of the interior space bear witness to this, referring to the large balloons that were inspected and repaired here when inflated.

The steel structure is the main reminder, forming the skeleton of the balloon shed. The design proposal tries to evoke the scale and volume by literally reconstructing the steel structure.

A residential project is planned around the balloon shed with a programme of 20 housing units, symmetrically located along the skeleton. The existing image of in-fill brickwork within a steel structure will be preserved.
The roof of the balloon shed will be covered with a transparent ETFE foil. The balloon shed will have the function of a covered outdoor space, a multifunctional open atrium providing access to the residential units. A space that stimulates meeting and collective use.