Main content:
New "Tor zur Welt" training centre in Hamburg, Germany
Project participants:
Client: GWG Gewerbe GmbH
Architect: bof architekten
Energy planner: ebök / EGS-plan GmbH
Building data:
Building type: Public building
Location: Krieterstraße 5, 21109 Hamburg
Gross floor area: 5.446 m²
Jury evaluation
"The ‘Tor zur Welt’ training centre is being developed on a 5,200-m² site in Hamburg as an integral part of an overall urban-planning concept. The convincing design, which resulted from a two-stage architectural competition, works with the urban form to create a functional floor plan with high-quality rooms and connecting rooms for a modern educational facility. The building envelope fulfils the passive-house standard to a large degree. Wood heating provides CO2-neutral energy for this building and for neighbouring buildings, too, via local heating. A 250-m² solar thermal system is included as part of the heating system. The indoor environment in summer is improved by night ventilation combined with a ground-coupled brine heat exchanger. The building and energy concepts will also be used for teaching purposes."
Project_characterisation
Building concept
The planned new building complex on the western site fits in with the urban structure of the railway-workers’ district located directly to the west. There are incomplete block structures at the east of the railway workers’ district, and the inclusion of sharp edges in the present project will give a finished air to the overall urban design.
The multi-functional centre is the core of the facilities, and is a common area which is open to the neighbourhood. It will serve both the users of the training centre and the residents of the Wilhelmsburg district. The project will has an open and inviting aura within the public space, encourages dialogue between the inside and the outside, and will enrich public life in the area. The educational facility will be integrated into the district and will have a positive effect on Wilhemsburg.
The ground-floor connection structure, which serves all functional areas, has an important function in these new buildings. In particular, it houses general and public uses, and fulfils the role of providing a “place for meetings and exchange”. The main entrance area and the break room for the training centre are located here. From here, the so-called ‘Straße des Lernens" ('Learning Street’) can be used to reach the internal access halls of the individual college areas. Open stairs lead from here to the learning areas of the various college sections.
Energy concept
The target for the training centre is the passive-house standard. This is to be achieved using a compact construction style, optimal thermal insulation and high-quality windows, systematic avoidance of thermal bridges, and an air-tight design of the building envelopes. Controlled ventilation with heat recovery completes the concept, with the ventilation system fulfilling a supporting role for the overnight cooling. The problems of weather protection and preventing break-ins which arise with night ventilation via windows are avoided.
The decoupling of the heating function from the ventilation system is intended to simplify the ventilation technology significantly and improve its cost-efficiency. In addition, the amount of time the ventilation system is running will be reduced, thus also reducing the energy requirement for fans.
A central energy facility is to be provided for the entire college site. Some of the heat will be generated in a wood-burning system. The boiler system is fired using woodchips or pellets, and also has a filter for particulates.