The rediscovery of traditional construction methods has been combined with organic forms in Madrid: the designers of the German School in Madrid worked under the proviso that school buildings should be progressive in their approach and assume a key position for building culture and sustainability. In addition to the sustainability of the building in energy terms, social aspects also stood to the fore – it was felt that the school should also fulfil its task as a formative environment for school students from an aesthetic point of view. ... read more

The Elbarkaden building complex forms an important part of the largest urban development project currently being undertaken in Europe – the HafenCity Hamburg. The privileged position along the waterside at Magdeburg Port, the surrounding historic “Speicherstadt” warehouse district and the demand for a comprehensively sustainable building shaped the design. In addition to the German headquarters of Greenpeace and ateliers for Designxport, it is also intended to provide a diverse range of apartments. This triple use will be recognisable from outside and helps to meet the architectural demands for this exclusive location.  ... read more

Maintaining the attractiveness of an old heating plant while simultaneously adopting innovative approaches in reusing such a building is something that has been impressively achieved by the designers working on the Erfurt Heizwerk heating plant. A house-in-house concept took the listed building requirements into consideration and maintained the patina of the old brickwork as a characteristic feature of the building. A central element of the energy concept is an adsorption heat pump that is supplied with district heat in combination with a solar thermal system.  ... read more

“Flexible residential use and sustainable construction were the project goals focussed on when designing the Ostersiepen student halls of residence in Wuppertal. With the expansion of the residential complex, the University of Wuppertal Social Services Office is responding to the expected increase in student numbers during the next few years. However, it remains to be seen whether this increase in demand will be sustained in the long term, which is why during the planning an emphasis was laid on permeable floor plans that will allow diverse uses. ...read more

The student design for the “Tilting Shell” office building in Hamburg demonstrates how the energy-based refurbishment of an administration building can combine energy efficiency with aesthetically convincing means. In addition to solar and sound protection elements, facade-integrated photovoltaic systems considerably enhance the appearance. A special feature of the energy concept is the in-house water treatment system that enables the utilisation of rainwater. ...read more

The student design from Bremen University of Applied Sciences is a response to new forms of communal living. Its three housing groups, which are each arranged around a central courtyard, consist of two- and three-storey buildings that unite completely contrasting lifestyles within a single community. In addition to houses designed for multiple generation living, there are also concepts for couples and families with children. All designs provide excellent thermal insulation with targeted utilisation of the sun. ...read more

A characteristic feature of modern bakeries is their intensive use of heating and refrigeration technology. With this project, the most favourable combination of building structure, technology and energy expenditure was determined right from the initial design stages using 3D simulation technology. The interdisciplinary, team-led approach to the design enabled a rational and energy saving production plant to be quickly achieved while ensuring environmental protection. ...read more

The children’s day care centre in Bochum is intended to be a zero-emissions building. The overall aim is even more ambitious: zero emissions when balanced across the year, non-fossil fuel energy supplies and an improvement on the requirements of EnEV 2009. To achieve these goals, concepts for optimising the daylight, supplying geothermal-based heating and providing passive cooling were developed. ...read more

When you take a look at the student halls of residences in Nymphenburger Strasse in Munich, it soon becomes clear that the building is in sore need of comprehensive renovation. However, in this refurbishment project the student design from Munich University of Applied Sciences was not just interested in improving its appearance but also had very definite goals regarding the energy performance, whereby the installation of a modern ventilation system, first class insulation and the use of a photovoltaic system are all components of the renovation concept. ...read more

The bold design from the Munich architects was hotly debated by the judging panel: Is the ambitious shading concept with a greened facade and the interior PCM curtains really feasible in residential construction? The idea of making the facade the centre point of the energy concept is certainly a brave and therefore praiseworthy approach that makes the Smart Material Houses such a striking design. ...read more

During the last few years, there has been an enormous increase in awareness about energy efficient buildings. Within the local community there was therefore a desire to set an example with the new nursery and to construct a building that would send out an important signal, whereby the focus was not just on energy efficiency but also on ecological and economic sustainability. As a consequence it was decided to have an energy-plus building designed and constructed that would as far as possible consist of natural and renewable materials. ...read more

The design from the Wuppertal students also demonstrates a desire to combine the latest building technology with the existing architectural heritage, to preserve old facades and to fill interiors with new life. The idea is to preserve the charm of an old factory building, which has remained empty since 1990, while transforming it into an Art and Music School with its diverse requirements. The design is characterised by inserted boxes that subdivide the building. ...read more