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Heizwerk heating plant, Erfurt
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.
How the judges assessed it:
“Build further while reusing the existing building and preserving the main structural fabric is the convincing message provided by this design concept. The impressive and extensive industrial monument is being reactivated and used for new, future-oriented applications. This is achieved in spatial, economic and usage terms by intelligently installing new building volumes, which themselves have a high architectural quality.
The interaction between the new house-in-house and the unique existing architecture creates an exciting spatial dialogue.
The house-in-house concept with three differently conditioned zones achieves a synergy between the building’s preservation as a historic monument and the competition’s demanding requirements regarding energy efficiency. However, the further construction must aim to achieve an optimum relationship between the thermal qualities in the external envelope and the inner dividing walls. Despite the house-in-house concept, the large volumes and glazed areas should enable good daylight use.”
Building concept
Through the use of timber as a renewable, domestic raw material, the new and the old are distinctively and strikingly contrasted with each another. Thüringer Energie- und GreenTech-Agentur (ThEGA), which acts as a “generator” for developing green technologies in Thuringia, will be located in a distinctive timber structure within the heating plant’s former generator house. The house-in-house concept is a synthesis of functional, structural, design and energy-based requirements.
The already completed facade refurbishment will be integrated into the concept. The refurbishment in line with listed building requirements will be accordingly completed in the boiler hall area and the extension. Still existing historic elements (for example the crane runway and lift) will be restored. The house-in-house principle used for the ThEGA box as a core component of the energy design will be particularly evident at night when seen from outside through the facades and the roof. This memorable and unique feature will draw attention to the new location of Thüringer Energie- und GreenTech-Agentur in Brühl, Erfurt.
Energy concept
To minimise the heat influx in the building, it is planned not only to optimally insulate the opaque wall and roof surfaces but to also offer maximum winter and summer thermal insulation in the window areas. A photovoltaic system is also planned. The electricity generated by it will be directly fed into the grid.
Hot water is provided via solar panels on the roof of the building. Only one backup heating system is planned via the central boiler system, which will be used if the weather conditions require the need for additional heating.