Germany – Architectural and related services – Planungsleistung Architekt (Tln.-Wettb.), Ausbau der Westbastion zum Besucherzentrum, Schloss Schwerin

The Schwerin Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2024, is to be extensively renovated in the area of the West Bastion. The aim is to renovate the roof, ground-floor ancillary rooms and cellar, and to convert them into a visitor centre for the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Parliament. In the process, components are to be upgraded in terms of fire protection, statics and building physics, and brought up to the current state of the art in terms of usability. The basis for this is an EW construction planning already created in 2009, which was divided into two construction phases: the 1st construction phase (cloakroom and toilet facilities, completion 2026) and the 2nd construction phase (conversion of the West Bastion into a visitor centre) now following. The original planning must be adapted to current user requirements, while the architectural concept and the historical character of the site are to be preserved. Changed circulation routes, a new location for the security check and improvements to accessibility must be examined. In addition, static, building physics and fire protection aspects must be revised by specialist planners. The West Bastion, built in the 16th century and later used as a coal cellar, is currently undeveloped and without a floor slab. Particular challenges are the high groundwater level and the difficult foundation situation, which imposes additional loads and must be further investigated. Furthermore, the sealing and thermal insulation of the earth-covered flat roof must be newly planned.