the woodcube, Hamburg

In the context of the International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg, woodcube was constructed as the first 5-storey glue-free solid wood building. An independent life cycle assessment proves that woodcube probably is – despite the basement and staircase core made of concrete – the first apartment complex which is already CO2-neutral regarding its construction alone. A networked energy management system is applied to also minimise energy consumption. This system recognises the required amount of heating energy, fresh air and light respectively shading. It also automatically controls the ventilation system with heat recovery. All technical controllers, meters and distributers are integrated in a pre-fabricated central cabinet module and can be individually adapted according to requirements. This furniture allows an intelligent integration of building services in a homely environment.

Contract volume in €

3000000

Country

Germany

Year

2013

Schönbuchschule, Stuttgart

The building ensemble is located in an extensive garden with scattered fruit trees. The complex consisting of two school buildings and a sports hall dating from 1958/59 should undergo a refurbishment to improve energy consumption. Additionally, the sports hall was completely gutted, spatially adapted to modern requirements and brought up to the state-of-the-art in all technical respects. Two new emergency stairs complement fire safety requirements. The project concept aimed at preserving the design vocabulary of the original buildings and re-interpreting it with contemporary materials with regard to today’s requirements. Pupils and teachers should be given the possibility to identify with their school. The aspect of recognition should be improved and supersede the uniform 1950s/60s architecture. The brick façades were to a great extent replaced by an insulated and back-ventilated panel system, the format of which makes reference to the structure of the brickwork and allows a modern interpretation. The panels were used with their natural material characteristics in terms of colour and surface texture instead of finishing them with an additional coloured coating. Just as the brick dating from the period of construction, they represent an authentic building material in terms of material colour and grain. The plaster façades were maintained as such. Together with parts of the exterior brick walls, they were finished with thermal insulation and a bright plaster surface. The wooden windows dating from the time of construction were replaced by aluminium-glass elements. The design of the new window elements is reminiscent of stylised bookshelves with books of various widths. What looks like the spine of books on the outside, actually conceals shelves on the inside, which represent defined storage areas in the classrooms and help to keep order. This layout in the form of abstracted books symbolises that a school is a place of acquired knowledge. The colour scheme applied to the entire building is oriented by the colour circle of Johannes Itten. Warm, radiant colours were used. The effect of the three selected shades of yellow and orange is reinforced with calm background shades in white and grey. In the interior, colours from the yellow to green range were additionally used in the re-designed areas with the intention to continue the colour concept internally. In the outdoor areas of the school, between the buildings, the schoolyard and in the viewing direction towards also used green spaces, bright plaster surfaces accentuated with coloured façade panels prevail. In the interplay with the green outdoor areas, the used colours convey an open, friendly and inviting impression. Owing to the clear design vocabulary and colour concept, a building ensemble was created within a neighbourhood characterised by a uniform housing development, which sets a conspicuous signal and allows the identification of users and residents with “their” school

Arco, Green Living Building, Stuttgart

The demolition of a factory in Stuttgart-Wangen made this inner-city quarter available for a re-development project. The area, which is currently under construction, comprises a larger supermarket, living space for approx. 50 residential units and the associated required parking in an underground car park. The apartments are laid out in various types and sizes. The U-shaped perimeter development closes the gaps towards the street resulting from the demolition. In return, the residents are offered a private park in the inner courtyard. The aim is to provide a maximum amount of green spaces despite the high structural concentration. This is why additional areas for planting were developed on the façade, for example funnel-shaped plant tubs and planting beds in the area of the distinctive balconies. The balconies were designed together with projecting shear walls and ceiling slabs in order to structure the dimension of the building accordingly

S+E, Office Building

The main office of an internationally operating manufacturer of air-conditioning and ventilation systems needed new headquarters, which is part of a master plan for the 23,000-square metre company premises. The new building shall not only accommodate the new engineering centre but also represent the self-image of the technology company. For this purpose, the façade plays a decisive role. The 6-storey office building develops from two parallel volumes, which penetrate and envelope each other and open up towards a roundabout located to the east. That way the building forms a distinctive gesture, which characterised the building façade and thus the company’s appearance. Simultaneously, it acts as the entrance to the service and business park. Both building sections accommodate different functions: reception, open-plan offices, conference rooms, and the cafeteria are located in the south, whilst the northern section houses offices of chief executives as well as circulation areas and ancillary facilities. The internal functional organisation is discernible on the façade. Whilst the rear section, which accommodates secondary rooms and vertical circulation routes, is finished with a plaster façade, the offices are located in a metallic rectangular block facing the ‘main road’ – not least as a reference for the metal-processing enterprise. In-between, fixed glazing structures the building. The openness of the transparent ground floor, which accommodates a foyer and conference rooms, is continued as a vertical glass façade stretching upwards between the solid wings fanning out - here, meeting rooms are located in close proximity to the offices – and ‘swinging’ back in the form of the floor-to-ceiling glazing of the staff restaurant on the roof level above the office block. The gradual reduction of the width of glass panes towards the curve generates a harmonious overall impression despite the more cost-efficient polygonal design. The restaurant terrace on the rooftop is created by a recess. This recess is repeated on the ground floor and allows unrestricted views for the turning traffic.