Leipzig – Futuristic white meets brick: On the site of the traditional crane builder Kirow in Leipzig, a café is currently being completed according to the plans of the Brazilian star architect Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012).
According to the company, the sphere is one of Niemeyer’s last designs. From a distance, it reminds a little of the helmet of a star warrior sticking to the corner of an old boiler house.
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa-“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-kugel-klebt-an-einem-alten-backsteinbau-201465215-71570024/Bild/1.bild.jpg “/>
The ball sticks to an old brick buildingPhoto: Jan Woitas / dpa
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The Brazilian conceived it in 2011, a year before his death. Construction started in 2017. Now the “Niemeyer Sphere” is almost finished.
Actually, the restaurant ball should be completed a year earlier, said authorized signatory Simone Lepper. However, the construction was a challenge.
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa-“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-fenster-bestehen-aus-liquid-crystal-glas-das-auch-in-smartphones-verbaut-ist-201465216-71570028/ Image / 1.bild.jpg “/>
The windows are made of liquid crystal glass, which is also built into smartphonesPhoto: Jan Woitas / dpa
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The concrete ball has glass surfaces from triangular windows, which consist of so-called liquid crystal glass. This is the same material that is used for cell phone displays. It was difficult to find a manufacturer and batches had to be returned before it really fit.
The Niemeyer building is financed by Kirow and his sister company, the streetcar manufacturer Heiterblick GmbH. There is no mention of the costs.
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa-“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-sphere-soll-kuenftig-auch-als-eventlocation-genused-werden-koennen-201465217-71570030/Bild/1.bild. jpg “/>
The sphere should also be used as an event location in the futurePhoto: Jan Woitas / dpa
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Both companies are located on the “Techne Sphere” site in the Plagwitz district of Leipzig. According to Lepper, around 350 people are working there, to whom the sphere will also be open in the future.
The companies belong to Ludwig Koehne – who also initiated the project. The owner personally contacted Niemeyer and asked whether the architect could imagine such a project in Germany, Lepper reported.
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa-“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-kugel-kann-durch-eine-tuer-von-der-dachterrasse-betreten-werden-201465219-71570032/Bild/1. image.jpg “/>
The ball can be entered through a door from the roof terracePhoto: Jan Woitas / dpa
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After the construction delays, Corona also put a spanner in the works of the “Niemeyer Sphere”: As an extension of the Kirov canteen, the ball should actually be open to the public.
It should also be used as an event location. The pandemic initially limited these plans, said Lepper. Booking inquiries would be accepted – but the planned grand opening of the ball is postponed indefinitely.
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