The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics is part of the German Max Planck Gesellschaft. The institute carries out fundamental research into the foundations of language in relation to psychological, social and biological aspects. The aim of the research is to map out brain activities in relation to language.

Because of the increase in research, the existing institute buil-ding had to be extended with laboratories, specific research spaces and offices. The surface area of the auditorium was also doubled in size. Spatially, the existing building is marked by an outline. The extension underscores the theme by extending the outline, creating a U-shaped volume that is connected to the existing building in two places.

Both the spatial relationship and the allure of the building enhance the spaciousness and architecture of the existing building but simultaneously form a separate identity that completes the mix of old and new in a self-explanatory manner.