The Latin word“Spolium”can be understood in the field of architecture as the reapplication of a part of a historic building to a new one. Therefore, the relocation of historic remains in new buildings is also, in a sense, a continuation of history.

 

In 1970, a café built during the reign of William II was demolished to make way for the main building of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover). Fortunately, its splendid arcade has been well preserved and stands on the square in front of the main building. Today, when people stop there, they seem to feel the leisurely afternoon of the past.

 

Therefore, when a new building appears in a place composed of buildings from different periods, it should respond to the existing site with a low profile. Compared with the solid arcades and teaching building, the transparent new building should extend more openly and freely in the site, creating a dialogue with the old building. As a result, the brutalism work from the William II period corresponds to the word "Spolium" and is well integrated into the new building.