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.