Cafeteria Triangel

The Stuttgart and Barcelona based architectural practice SOMAA, founded by Hadi A. Tandawardaja and Tobias Bochmann – both graduates from EPFL in Lausanne, realised the new Mensa ‘Triangle’ which is a shared cafeteria between two neighboring schools in downtown Leonberg, a small town in Southwest Germany. Situated between the street and three existing buildings the architecture’s organic shape is based on three circular volumes fusing together to become one undulating form. Like this it creates a cohesive link between the two schools while also designating itself as a central meeting place.

“The building creates several interior and exterior zones that are used to fulfill the various social needs of the two schools. These interior and exterior zones converge and blur the division between outside and inside. This is evident when one looks at the materials used for the flooring. The dark asphalt surrounding the building continues into the interior through the entry and, thus, combines the external and internal circulation spaces.”

“On the exterior, the façade consists of a system of open and closed floor to ceiling panels paired with exterior wooden supports. Here the rhythm of the vertical columns reinforces the undulating form of the building and the open glass façade creates a visual connection to the outdoors. The shape and orientation of the building was designed to maximize solar gain and for this reason the southern and eastern sides of the building consist of the main dining areas and have an almost entirely open façade.

The generous amount of natural light that is created by the open façade allows for the relatively small use of artificial lighting and contributes to making the space feel open. Natural ventilation was also incorporated into the façade and is used in combination with a mechanic ventilation system. By optimizing the relation between façade area to ground surface, loss of temperature is also minimized.”