A Building of Pure Form
The joint building for the Technical University of Munich's (TUM) mathematics and computer science departments on the Garching campus is a physical representation of abstract thought. Designed by the Munich-based firm Henn Architekten, the structure is an example of geometric purity and functional design. The building consists of two main L-shaped sections, one for mathematics and one for computer science, which interlock around a central, glass-roofed hall. This connecting space, known as the "Magistrale," is the communicative center of the complex, linking all the primary functional areas.
The exterior presents a striking image: a seemingly perfect cube, clad in glass, that appears to be tilted and embedded within the larger structure. This cube houses the main lecture halls and seminar rooms. The design gives physical form to the mathematical concepts explored within its walls. The building complex, completed and occupied in 2002, provides the spatial framework for one of Germany's largest and most prominent computer science faculties. The entire Garching campus is a major European research hub, hosting five TUM departments, four Max Planck Institutes, and over 17,000 students.
From Lecture Hall to Parabola
Inside the building, the focus on mathematical form continues. One of the most celebrated features is a pair of giant parabolic slides. This functional artwork, created by the artist team Brunner/Ritz, allows for a rapid descent from the third floor, 13 meters up, down to the ground level of the main hall. The slides are constructed from 12 mm thick, curved steel pipes, each with a diameter of one meter. Their shape is not arbitrary; they follow the mathematical curve of a parabola, providing a tangible experience of a geometric equation.
The main lecture hall, named the Friedrich L. Bauer Hörsaal, is one of three in the building and can accommodate nearly 500 people. The building's interior is organized into thirty smaller sections called "finger," which branch off the main hall and contain offices and workspaces. A color-coded system and a logical numbering scheme. Even-numbered sections on one side; odd on the other—help with navigation through the extensive structure. Since October 2022, the departments of Mathematics and Informatics have been integrated into the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology.