ABSTRACT
The Mannheim Business School is housed within an expansive, baroque palace and therefore a sympathetic architectural response was needed in order to accommodate new lecture theatres. Underground development in cities is typically associated with large scale infrastructure projects such as rail networks, where the emphasis is on technical excellence in engineering and construction, however, architects also have an important role to play. The role of architecture in underground development must be more than simply putting lipstick on an infrastructure gorilla or interior design in the latter stages of a project. The initial sketch for Meraas by masterplanners and architects Benoy set out to rationalise the 600m long beachfront space, and better reintegrate it with the surrounding neighbourhood. The unexpected and inspiring architecture of the museum has also received numerous awards including Australia’s top architectural prize, the Sir Zelman Cowen Award.
