Meeresmuseum: An Evolving Architectural Palimpsest

In the historic center of Stralsund, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Baltic Sea, the Meeresmuseum – the German Oceanographic Museum – has updated its identity through a renovation and expansion by Reichel Schlaier Architekten.

The project, which follows an international competition in 2017, addresses the challenge of modernizing a historical palimpsest to create an accessible contemporary museum without sacrificing the legibility of its distinct construction phases.

Meeresmuseum: Revealing a layered heritage

The project is set within the historic Katharinenkloster, a former Gothic Dominican monastery dating to the early 14th century. Over the centuries, the complex served as a school, an arsenal, and an orphanage before becoming home to the museum in the mid-20th century.

Decades of disparate additions had obscured the original structure to the point that the complex no longer read as a coherent whole. Certain later additions – such as the German Democratic Republic–era steel truss in the nave – also had their own historical and landmark value and therefore required preservation.

Faced with these complexities, the firm adopted a critical selection strategy. Additions of no cultural significance were removed to expose elements like the long corridor that once connected the historic cloisters to the city wall, as well as the Westhof courtyard, which has been integrated into the museum route.

Excavations in the choir uncovered the foundations of a chapel dating to before 1282 – making it the city’s oldest known church structure – while work in the north courtyard revealed medieval cellars that are now integrated into the exhibition design.

Integrating historical layers

With the original structure’s legibility restored, the challenge was how to intervene without overpowering the historic fabric. Following the 1964 Venice Charter (the ethical foundation of modern restoration), the project prioritizes the legibility of historical layers, integrating new elements in a way that is distinct yet harmonious.

The additions comprise abstract volumes and materials that reflect the urban setting. The copper cladding, with a traditional handcrafted batten seam that rhythmically marks the surface, recalls the roofs of Stralsund’s historic churches.

The museum route was also entirely redesigned, with the main entrance moved to the former northern forum, which has been reconfigured as a foyer with ticketing and information services, freeing up the nave’s historic portal to serve as the natural entrance to the main exhibition hall.

Sustainability and accessibility

The project’s sustainability is rooted in its conservative approach, since preserving the existing structure minimizes embodied carbon. The project minimizes new construction in favor of reuse, with historic granite paving, reclaimed bricks, and timber elements repurposed for new applications.

The building’s energy performance was upgraded with high-efficiency systems, including air-to-water heat pumps and heat recovery systems capable of reclaiming up to 80% of thermal energy. Lighting was fully converted to LED, while the aquarium’s life-support systems – among the most energy-intensive functions – were upgraded with low-consumption technologies.

Ramps, sloped floors, and footbridges provide barrier-free access throughout the complex. The presence of MEP services is minimized by discreetly integrating them into the historic fabric.

By balancing conservation and innovation, the architects transformed complexity into a design strength. The project provides a critical framework for interpreting time by organizing historical layers into a coherent, accessible, and contemporary narrative grounded in the site’s historical depth.

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