Outstanding features are the council hall, which juts out over the cube and the enormous clock, a reference to a longstanding tradition of European town halls telling citizens what the time is.
Outstanding features are the council hall, which juts out over the cube and the enormous clock, a reference to a longstanding tradition of European town halls telling citizens what the time is. Photo: Anja Koehler

Town hall, Salem

The Spanish architecture studio won the European-wide architecture competition to design the town hall in the new center of the town of Salem. The design featured a simply cube clinkered with red brick. The new town hall, office of records, town council and library are accommodated behind the subtly structured and well-proportioned facades.

Access to the inside of the building is via an open staircase, which is surrounded by galleries and walkways with stylish banisters, both of which define and give the stairwell structure.
Access to the inside of the building is via an open staircase, which is surrounded by galleries and walkways with stylish banisters, both of which define and give the stairwell structure. Photo: Anja Koehler
Insit benches (design: Wolfgang C. R. Mezger) placed back to back on the softly curved galleries of varying depths invite people to stop and linger for a while. As the benches protrude over their bases at the side, people can sit on the ends of them too.
Insit benches (design: Wolfgang C. R. Mezger) placed back to back on the softly curved galleries of varying depths invite people to stop and linger for a while. As the benches protrude over their bases at the side, people can sit on the ends of them too. Photo: Anja Koehler
The tautly upholstered benches are in standard seating heights so that people of any age can get up more easily. The space underneath lends the furniture a lightweight look and makes cleaning the floors easy too.
The tautly upholstered benches are in standard seating heights so that people of any age can get up more easily. The space underneath lends the furniture a lightweight look and makes cleaning the floors easy too. Photo: Anja Koehler
Interior design:
Estudio arquitectos primitivo gonzález / mmp architects.
Architect:
Estudio arquittectos primitivo gonzalez / mmp architekten
Industry:
NGO/ Government
Functions:
Community , Meet
Location:
Salem
Region:
Europe
Range:
Insit