Mathäser Exchange Hub by Goldbrunner Architektur: A Modern Market Hub Bridging Heritage and Community

Located in Ruhstorf an der Rott, Germany, the Mathäser Exchange Hub by Goldbrunner Architektur is a thoughtfully designed public and hospitality space that blends the charm of historic architecture with modern, flexible functionality. Completed in 2024 and spanning 1,350 m², the project transforms the Mathäser site into a central market hub, creating a vibrant place of exchange, interaction, and social gathering.

The architectural strategy carefully balances the new construction with the existing historic building, establishing a harmonious old-and-new symbiosis. The building’s urban position, with the auditorium integrated into the existing structure, defines a southern forecourt and a northern riverside passage, enhancing connectivity and pedestrian flow.

Flexible Interior Spaces for Community Engagement

The foyer serves as the central hub, linking the hall, restaurant, and vertical circulation to the upper-floor club rooms and concert hall. Designed for maximum versatility, the main hall features a mobile partition wall, enabling it to be divided into north and south zones to accommodate diverse event sizes, from intimate gatherings to large celebrations.

The restaurant emphasizes indoor-outdoor connectivity with its south-facing folding windows, opening fully to the terrace during warmer months. Multiple dining areas, including the main dining room, adjoining rooms, and a separable ‘parlour’, offer a variety of seating arrangements that cater to different social and culinary experiences.

Outdoor Spaces: From Market Square to Riverside Retreats

The project creates a spectrum of public and semi-public spaces designed for lingering and social interaction. The market square to the south hosts markets, concerts, and performances, with seating steps and terraces that encourage casual gathering and event participation. The restaurant terrace extends the indoor dining experience into the outdoors, promoting flexible, alfresco hospitality.

To the north, the renovation reactivates and expands the existing beer garden, enhancing its cozy ambiance with the shade of trees and the calming presence of the Kleeberg stream. A newly created riverside walkway with seating and a quay wall transforms the stream bank into a functional and inviting urban edge, connecting the hall and foyer with this refreshing northern outdoor area.

Materials, Sustainability, and Engineering

The design incorporates high-quality materials and sustainable solutions from manufacturers such as KEIM, Solarlux, Habisreutinger, and Hussl. The project was realized with the expertise of lead architect Martin Goldbrunner, landscape architects Stautner Schäf, and the engineering team including Jodlbauer and Forstner Elektroplanung, ensuring a balance of aesthetic elegance, functional performance, and environmental sensitivity.

The Mathäser Exchange Hub is a prime example of contemporary hospitality and public architecture that merges adaptive reuse with innovative new design. By connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, blending heritage with modernity, and offering flexible event and dining environments, the project redefines how communities interact within urban cultural hubs.

All photographs are works of Sebastian Schels Fotografie