Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt/Main Outdoor facilities for science on the Riedberg campus

The open spaces of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research at the Frankfurt-Riedberg research site are defined by the H-shaped building designed by Henn Architekten. Three areas can be distinguished: The forecourt in the south with delivery area for the cafeteria, the Green Campus in the north, and the parking lot with delivery area in the north-east.



The forecourt is designed as a stone plaza divided into two levels and paved with artificial stone. The lower level provides access for cars and deliveries to the cafeteria. The parking spaces for the disabled are also located here. A group of 9 solitary trees and strips of grass planting accentuate the western plaza. Most of the bicycle parking spaces are located here. A spacious staircase and a ramp for the disabled lead to the main entrance of the institute.



The parking lot area provides parking spaces for visitors and employees and serves as a delivery area. The parking spaces are structured with planting areas and tree locations. The garden is accessed via a small staircase.



The Green Campus is the institute's main open space. Based on an urban design by Henn Architekten, it was planned as a garden space that can be continued into the northern part of the university building site via the adjacent Campus Street.



The design corresponds with the orthogonal structure of the building. A hard footpath, paved with the same concrete block as the forecourt, frames the Green Campus. In the area of the institute entrance to the garden, the path widens into a terrace that accommodates tables from the cafeteria. From the terrace, a curved path made of in-situ concrete leads through the garden to the parking lot and the northern garden entrance, where there are additional bicycle parking spaces.



Strips of higher and lower grass and evergreen planting as well as cast stone accompany the framing and traversing paths and divide the garden into different areas that can be used as recreational and picnic areas. This creates a variety of views and vistas across the campus. To the east of the path, additional garden situations with thematically planted perennial beds are planned.



Ornamental cherries (Prunus subhirtella "Accolade") were chosen as the leading tree species for the forecourt and the garden in reference to the former agricultural and horticultural use of the Riedberg. Blood plums (Prunus cerasifera "Nigra") form the sparse grove facing Campus-Strasse. The parking lots were planted with conical Norway maples (Acer platanoides "Cleveland"). The border planting between the footpath and the institute consists of a grass planting with solitary dwarf blood plum (Prunus cistena). The institute is positioned as an expressive structural element in the green campus.