- Solar Residential Park Neufeld
- Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn
- Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe Göttingen
- Berlin-Möckernkiez
- Housing Groups in Weissach
- The Powerbox
Solar Residential Park Neufeld
Upscale Living in Plusenergy Houses
The Solar Residential Park Neufeld is in many respects a flagship project for upscale living at highest sustainability standards: with an innovative energy concept not only for the individual buildings, but also for the entire settlement; and with an integrated mobility concept with reduced traffic that combines electric mobility with modern communication technology. So a family can easily get by without a second car, or even without a privately owned car altogether.
Neufeld is situated about 420 meters above sea level and 150 meters above the center of Grenzach: one of the most attractive residential areas of the entire region. The northern part of
Neufeld is a residential area with homes built in the 1960s. The new development will be situated on the southern part, which is located on a south-facing slope, beautifully surrounded by forests and recreational areas. There will be “solar villas” as single or semi-detached, and triple houses. All buildings can be flexibly divided into several spacious units. There will be a total of about 130 residential units on approximately 34,000 square meters of property.
Three types of villas
We propose to build two-storey houses with garden storeys and recessed attica floors. The garden storeys arise "naturally" out of the gently sloping hillside, and the attica floors are derived from the geometry of the solar roofs. We have designed three types of houses with lots of variants:
Solar Villa I
is a generous solar villa as a stand-alone building.
Solar Villa II
is a semi-detached house with two to four apartments.
Solar Villa III
is a group of three houses with up to six apartments.
The buildings offer a number of partitions and uses. The residential units meet today's housing needs, but can also adapt to future requirements, in view of the demographic changes and the changing demands of space for combined working and living. All three basic types can be divided into storey flats, maisonettes or combinations of both, so that a flexible mixture of smaller and larger units can be realized. Therefore, there is a high flexibility in terms of different uses: families and single apartments, shared flats, combination of
living and working, commercial uses, and shared offices, as well as multi-generational houses / apartments or senior living communities.
Energy Efficiency
Since the production of electricity from photovoltaic systems on the roofs has become cheaper than conventional power from the public grid, and since the feed-in tariff is lower than the consumer electricity price, new technical and economical schemes are needed. Instead of feeding as much power as possible into the public grid, we now need to maximize the self-sufficiency of the houses and of the whole settlement - through energy efficiency and renewable energy use. Both in the field of heat supply as well as of electricity the project will set new standards that surpass the upcoming high European standards.
The starting point is still with the efficiency, with the reduction of all energy consumption in the house. The buildings will be at "KfW-Efficiency House 40"-standard. The resource savings can be achieved by a compact and well-insulated and well-sealed outer shell – including triple-glazed windows and a ventilation system with heat recovery. There will be water-saving fittings and appliances, hot water connections for washing machines and dishwashers, as well as highly insulated water pipes and storage tanks. And on the side of the electricity savings: LED bulbs (outdoor, staircase, emergency lighting) and energy-saving elevators. A guide to energy-efficient appliances and lighting fixtures will be provided for the residents.
All energy efficiency measures also help to create a well-tempered indoor climate – and maintain it at all ambient temperatures. The large windows provide light-filled spaces and the ventilation system constantly provides fresh air in all rooms. Further measures include:
Low temperature heating installations, which can also be used as cooling
Summer cooling by night air
Component-optimized heat retention in the building materials
Fixed and movable sunscreen
Plusenergy
The second step: not only passive, but active use of solar energy. All homes have a solar power plant. Overall, the yield of photovoltaic electricity in the settlement will be around 860,000 kWh per year. The remaining demand for room heating and hot water can be provided by a district heating system and a cogeneration plant, which also generates additional electric power.
Under the new conditions of "grid parity", not only the single building, but the estate as a whole has to be regarded as the system reference for the energy balance: With a district net not only for heat, but also for power, the percentage of consumption of the self-generated electricity can be significantly increased through exchange between the houses: Before surplus electricity is sold into the public grid, as much as possible gets distributed within the settlement. Also the lighting of the road, square and walking paths is powered primarily through the internal grid.
Electric power storage may help to get the self-use to an even higher level. With all the emphasis on self-consumption of electricity, it still makes a lot of sense ecologically to sell surplus power to the grid – to further replace as much carbon and nuclear power as possible.
For the Solar Park Neufeld, energy efficiency is not only a question of building insulation, but also of efficient energy production and intelligent energy distribution. The owners and occupants are a producer and consumer community – which adds a social aspect to the technology:
Only together they reach the ultimate in sustainability. And the utilities company as operator of the networks delivers an intelligent energy management system that connects all the components together, and then also connects the whole settlement with the public grid, and optimizes the exchange between single houses with their energy consuming devices and their decentralized and central power generators (PV, CHP) – including the traffic, which can also be part of the renewable energy system.
Mobility
The district heat grid is a shared infrastructure. And with the internal district power grid, there is a second communal network not only in terms of technical components (including the heat and power generating machines), but also in terms of a community of conscious consumers and producers of energy, and this is part of the innovation of the plusenergy concept in the Solar Residential Park Neufeld. Thus, it is the next logical step to include the other major private energy consumer: the traffic.
The location above Grenzach, and the expected high proportion of commuters to Basel open another horizon for the overall concept, with the following objectives:
Keeping the living areas free of traffic and car parking zones as much as possible.
Powering a significant proportion of the traffic with Renewable Energies.
Integrating modern mobility with intelligent traffic management tools.
Saving the cost (at least) for the second car of each family.
This requires an innovative design of the transitions between private and public transport, the connection to public transport (the existing bus line) with a multi-component approach. It is possible, for example, to have call and collective taxi service, or/and a community bus, together with e-car, e-vehicle and e-bike-sharing with cross-border co-operation of the services providers.
A new development which will be used in Neufeld is short-range ride-sharing which could be offered by service providers such as FLINC: If a resident, for example, wants to drive to downtown Grenzach or to Basel in his own car, he can spontaneously search on a website or on a mobile app for riders in the neighborhood. Regular and short-term car- and ride-sharing activities can also be organized over an intranet page for all residents of the new and old parts of Neufeld, and this could, of course, also be used for other communication functions for the solar housing estate and the entire Neufeld neighborhood.
Parking space is provided next to the homes, but also at the edge of the housing estate. The residential streets do not have any parking lots. Access roads and residential roads are pedestrianized. Public space so remains public – it is not for cars but for communication among neighbors, and it remains safe for children to play.
Solar Residential Park Neufeld
The Solar Residential Park Neufeld is in many respects a flagship project for upscale living at highest sustainability standards: with an innovative energy concept not only for the individual buildings, but also for the entire settlement; and with an integrated mobility concept with reduced traffic that combines electric mobility with modern communication technology. So a family can easily get by without a second car, or even without a privately owned car altogether.
Neufeld is situated about 420 meters above sea level and 150 meters above the center of Grenzach: one of the most attractive residential areas of the entire region. The northern part of
Location of Solar Residential Park Neufeld
Three types of villas
We propose to build two-storey houses with garden storeys and recessed attica floors. The garden storeys arise "naturally" out of the gently sloping hillside, and the attica floors are derived from the geometry of the solar roofs. We have designed three types of houses with lots of variants:
Site Plan Solar Residential Park Neufeld
is a generous solar villa as a stand-alone building.
Solar Villa II
is a semi-detached house with two to four apartments.
Solar Villa III
is a group of three houses with up to six apartments.
The buildings offer a number of partitions and uses. The residential units meet today's housing needs, but can also adapt to future requirements, in view of the demographic changes and the changing demands of space for combined working and living. All three basic types can be divided into storey flats, maisonettes or combinations of both, so that a flexible mixture of smaller and larger units can be realized. Therefore, there is a high flexibility in terms of different uses: families and single apartments, shared flats, combination of
Possible Distribution of the Three Types of Villas
Energy Efficiency
Since the production of electricity from photovoltaic systems on the roofs has become cheaper than conventional power from the public grid, and since the feed-in tariff is lower than the consumer electricity price, new technical and economical schemes are needed. Instead of feeding as much power as possible into the public grid, we now need to maximize the self-sufficiency of the houses and of the whole settlement - through energy efficiency and renewable energy use. Both in the field of heat supply as well as of electricity the project will set new standards that surpass the upcoming high European standards.
Section of Solar Residential Park Neufeld
Villa 1 - First Floor
All energy efficiency measures also help to create a well-tempered indoor climate – and maintain it at all ambient temperatures. The large windows provide light-filled spaces and the ventilation system constantly provides fresh air in all rooms. Further measures include:
Villa 2 - First Floor
The second step: not only passive, but active use of solar energy. All homes have a solar power plant. Overall, the yield of photovoltaic electricity in the settlement will be around 860,000 kWh per year. The remaining demand for room heating and hot water can be provided by a district heating system and a cogeneration plant, which also generates additional electric power.
Under the new conditions of "grid parity", not only the single building, but the estate as a whole has to be regarded as the system reference for the energy balance: With a district net not only for heat, but also for power, the percentage of consumption of the self-generated electricity can be significantly increased through exchange between the houses: Before surplus electricity is sold into the public grid, as much as possible gets distributed within the settlement. Also the lighting of the road, square and walking paths is powered primarily through the internal grid.
Electric power storage may help to get the self-use to an even higher level. With all the emphasis on self-consumption of electricity, it still makes a lot of sense ecologically to sell surplus power to the grid – to further replace as much carbon and nuclear power as possible.
For the Solar Park Neufeld, energy efficiency is not only a question of building insulation, but also of efficient energy production and intelligent energy distribution. The owners and occupants are a producer and consumer community – which adds a social aspect to the technology:
Villa 3 - First Floor
Mobility
The district heat grid is a shared infrastructure. And with the internal district power grid, there is a second communal network not only in terms of technical components (including the heat and power generating machines), but also in terms of a community of conscious consumers and producers of energy, and this is part of the innovation of the plusenergy concept in the Solar Residential Park Neufeld. Thus, it is the next logical step to include the other major private energy consumer: the traffic.
The location above Grenzach, and the expected high proportion of commuters to Basel open another horizon for the overall concept, with the following objectives:
This requires an innovative design of the transitions between private and public transport, the connection to public transport (the existing bus line) with a multi-component approach. It is possible, for example, to have call and collective taxi service, or/and a community bus, together with e-car, e-vehicle and e-bike-sharing with cross-border co-operation of the services providers.
A new development which will be used in Neufeld is short-range ride-sharing which could be offered by service providers such as FLINC: If a resident, for example, wants to drive to downtown Grenzach or to Basel in his own car, he can spontaneously search on a website or on a mobile app for riders in the neighborhood. Regular and short-term car- and ride-sharing activities can also be organized over an intranet page for all residents of the new and old parts of Neufeld, and this could, of course, also be used for other communication functions for the solar housing estate and the entire Neufeld neighborhood.
Parking space is provided next to the homes, but also at the edge of the housing estate. The residential streets do not have any parking lots. Access roads and residential roads are pedestrianized. Public space so remains public – it is not for cars but for communication among neighbors, and it remains safe for children to play.
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Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn
Following the Example of Freiburg
A New Solar Housing Estate near Basel
In the prosperous triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, in Grenzach-Wyhlen close to Basel, the solar village "Grenzacher Horn" is going to be built. As plusenergy houses, all buildings will generate more energy than they consume. With over 130 apartments on 26,500 square meters, “Grenzacher Horn” will be twice as large as its role model in Freiburg and thus the title of "world's largest settlement in positive energy standard" will go to Grenzach. There will be double, terraced and multi-storey houses, variable apartment sizes from 60 up to about 200 square metres. The houses are situated in quiet, residential, car-free streets and around protected courtyards.
The highlight of the project: along the railroad tracks, on the southwest boundary of the site, there is a highly absorbent noise protection wall which not only shields away the noise of the train, but at the same time functions as an energy-generating building: the "Solar Shed". The entire length of noise barrier is equipped with a solar roof, which covers car and bike garages, and storage rooms. The cars are kept on the edge of the site, so lots of room for gardens and public green remains. A playground and a central public square complete the concept.
Building Concept
All buildings have barrier-free access, and elevators will as well make all apartments accessible barrier-free. The construction with
limestone walls and reinforced concrete floors allows for heat storage, a comfortable indoor temperature both in summer and winter, and a good fire and noise protection. The facades are mainly plastered, with wooden coverings in some areas that stand out in colour and material. And they have a high quality external thermal insulation composite system.
There will be variable one-, two- and multi-family houses with attika storeys and optional attachments. The units can be divided in variable ways. This allows for a flexible response to changing needs and demands.
Energy Concept
The objective is to maximize the degree of self-sufficiency of the houses and the whole settlement through energy efficiency and renewable energy production, distribution and use. The project will set new standards both in the field of heat supply as well as in electricity and electric mobility.
Energy Efficient Plusenergiehaus® with passive and active solar use
PV Solar Power Plant as building roofs - Yield: approximately 540,000 kWh/year
PV Solar Power Plant on "Solar Shed" - Yield: about 560,000 kWh/a
District electricity and district heating concept with combined heat and power
Intelligent power management, including the building and equipment usage, communication and mobility, and energy storage
Renewable energy for mobility with battery charging and power management
Integrated solar street, square and street lighting with innovative LED technology
The buildings have " KfW Efficiency House 40” standard and thus receive the highest possible state funding. Using active energy systems on top of that, they become Plusenergy Houses. The following measures will be applied:
Compact building design and well insulated building envelope
Ventilation with heat recovery
Water-saving fittings and sanitary items
Hot water connection for washing machines and dishwashers
Highly insulated water pipes and storage tank with fresh water station
LED bulbs (outside, stairs, emergency lighting)
Energy-saving elevators
Guide to Energy Efficiency: energy saving household appliances and lighting
Living Comfort
All energy efficiency measures, at the same time, create a well-tempered indoor climate and maintain it at all ambient temperatures. Light-flooded rooms with good ventilation make the plusenergy buildings a comfortable home:
Low temperature heating, possibly also to be used for cooling
Free cooling by night air in summer
Optimized heat retention by building materials
Ventilation with heat and cold recovery
Light-filled rooms with large windows (special triple-glazed windows with efficient heat insulation)
Fixed and movable sunscreens
Mobility Concept
A comprehensive sustainability approach would include pioneering transportation planning. The Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn is well connected to public transport: Two bus stops are nearby, and from there you can reach in the city center of Basel and at all major interchanges within 15 minutes. In the settlement we will have:
Traffic-calmed access road – 20 km/h
Parking with carports and garages in the "Solar Shed"
Provision of e-car- and e-bike-sharing vehicles
Protected areas and solar stations for electric cars, electric vehicles and electric bikes
Community Life
Sustainable living means communal life: neighbors join together, they self-organize, and they jointly own and use many things and services. This creates synergies, avoiding unnecessary consumption. Architecture and urban planning helps to set up the conditions for this, for an atmosphere of solidarity and a communicative life in public space.
Little traffic, sheltered outdoor areas
Multi-generational playground and sheltered courtyards with playgrounds for infants
Car and bike sharing
Close cooperation of residents and utilities company: self consumption and distribution inside the estate of the energy produced – and sale of the surplus electricity into the public grid
Community activities such as urban gardening
Communication in the settlement by information display and website with intranet and newsletters
Purchasing groups, swap meet, flea market, neighborhood festivals
Community living - even across generations - is possible in the courtyards and the building groups surrounding them, but as well in individual houses and apartments. Living and working in one place means short distances and avoiding traffic. There are house and floor plan types especially designed and particularly suited for cooperative building groups or for sharing flats from three to twelve people – which also make ideal homes for families. These houses have optional public areas and guest apartments. Work spaces, practices, and work in commonly used areas can be realized for example in the garden floors and ground floors.
Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn
The Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn
A New Solar Housing Estate near Basel
In the prosperous triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, in Grenzach-Wyhlen close to Basel, the solar village "Grenzacher Horn" is going to be built. As plusenergy houses, all buildings will generate more energy than they consume. With over 130 apartments on 26,500 square meters, “Grenzacher Horn” will be twice as large as its role model in Freiburg and thus the title of "world's largest settlement in positive energy standard" will go to Grenzach. There will be double, terraced and multi-storey houses, variable apartment sizes from 60 up to about 200 square metres. The houses are situated in quiet, residential, car-free streets and around protected courtyards.
Location of Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn
Building Concept
All buildings have barrier-free access, and elevators will as well make all apartments accessible barrier-free. The construction with
Survey Map of Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn
There will be variable one-, two- and multi-family houses with attika storeys and optional attachments. The units can be divided in variable ways. This allows for a flexible response to changing needs and demands.
Single, Two and Multiple Family Houses
Grenzach Wyhlen - The Southernmost Point of Baden-Wurttemberg
The objective is to maximize the degree of self-sufficiency of the houses and the whole settlement through energy efficiency and renewable energy production, distribution and use. The project will set new standards both in the field of heat supply as well as in electricity and electric mobility.
Rooms Flooded With Light
All energy efficiency measures, at the same time, create a well-tempered indoor climate and maintain it at all ambient temperatures. Light-flooded rooms with good ventilation make the plusenergy buildings a comfortable home:
Street Space With Solar Shed
A comprehensive sustainability approach would include pioneering transportation planning. The Solar Settlement Grenzacher Horn is well connected to public transport: Two bus stops are nearby, and from there you can reach in the city center of Basel and at all major interchanges within 15 minutes. In the settlement we will have:
Sustainable living means communal life: neighbors join together, they self-organize, and they jointly own and use many things and services. This creates synergies, avoiding unnecessary consumption. Architecture and urban planning helps to set up the conditions for this, for an atmosphere of solidarity and a communicative life in public space.
Car Sharing
Community living - even across generations - is possible in the courtyards and the building groups surrounding them, but as well in individual houses and apartments. Living and working in one place means short distances and avoiding traffic. There are house and floor plan types especially designed and particularly suited for cooperative building groups or for sharing flats from three to twelve people – which also make ideal homes for families. These houses have optional public areas and guest apartments. Work spaces, practices, and work in commonly used areas can be realized for example in the garden floors and ground floors.
Multiple Family Dwelling
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Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe Göttingen
The concept
Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe will consist of eight multi-storey buildings. They are grouped around a courtyard with reduced traffic. Another option: only four multi-storeys, and four rows of terraced houses. The site is part of a conversion area on a beautiful hillside – with terraces that were created in the 1930s. The site is fully accessible, and already successfully developed to a large extent, mainly for housing, but also for mixed uses.
The Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe offer an ensemble with high dwelling value in an urban environment. Nevertheless, it is surrounded by greenery, on a hillside with beautiful views of the city and with many opportunities for recreation. Each building will produce more energy than is consumed, including room heating, warm water, and electricity.
The project in numbers
144 residential units will be created, which are designed barrier-free. The apartment sizes are variable, so that one can respond flexibly to emerging needs. The land area on the terrace between Julius-Leber-Road and Von-Witzleben-Road is 21,000 square meters. The plan has a total floor space of 15,500 square meters. 13,000 square meters of living space are to be realized - which gives a very favorable ratio to the total floor area.
Traffic and Access
The central area remains free of cars, creating attractive spaces for neighborly interaction, for communication between young and old alike. The car access to Bettina-von-Armin-Höfe for is via the terrace below. The road between the houses remains largely free of traffic: a space for kids to play on, and an undisturbed,
communicative space for all residents. At Von-Witzleben-Strasse 71 carport spaces are provided. Here, you also find the entrance to the parking garage, located in the basements of the houses. There is space for 202 cars, but also for bicycles and electric bikes, as well as storage rooms for the residents. The courtyards are connected directly to the garage. There is also vertical access directly to the inside stairs and elevators of the houses. In the variant with multi-storey blocks and terraced houses, only the former have basements with garage, which then has 159 parking spaces. Outside, there will be parking spaces for bicycles and electric bikes, together with a charging station for the latter. E-bikes are especially attractive here because of the comparatively steep slope you have to drive up.
The Plusenergy concept
The terrace of Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe is about 20,000 square meters in size, very wide and orientated towards the southwest, so it offers good conditions for solar buildings. The building will get highly effective insulation and sealing in order to achieve passive house standard, so that the room heating demand is below 15 kWh per square meter per year.
The roofs are used for the generation of electricity. They are made of photovoltaic modules, which are not applied on a tile roof, but are themselves the roof. A crucial point is the quality of the design.
Meanwhile, we have reached "grid parity", which means that the costs per kWh and the feed-in tariff for PV electricity is at or below the consumer price. This is why the concept is not based primarily on feeding into the public grid, but allows the highest possible self-consumption. The photovoltaic power plant is at 800kWp. In relation to the solar irradiation conditions on the spot, annual revenues of approximately 700,000 kWh can be expected. This means an equivalent saving of about 190,000 liters of oil.
There is an existing district heating network for the complete area of the “Ziethen” terraces of which the Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe are a part. This is fueled exclusively by biogas. A connection of the buildings to the network is not only possible, but also desired by the local authorities of the city of Göttingen and the power plant operators. Yet, the authorities leave the possibility of a separate supply unit for this single project, when a particularly innovative concept is presented. Centralized and decentralized solutions are being examined, as well as various primary energy sources.
Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe Göttingen
The terrace of Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe
Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe will consist of eight multi-storey buildings. They are grouped around a courtyard with reduced traffic. Another option: only four multi-storeys, and four rows of terraced houses. The site is part of a conversion area on a beautiful hillside – with terraces that were created in the 1930s. The site is fully accessible, and already successfully developed to a large extent, mainly for housing, but also for mixed uses.
The Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe offer an ensemble with high dwelling value in an urban environment. Nevertheless, it is surrounded by greenery, on a hillside with beautiful views of the city and with many opportunities for recreation. Each building will produce more energy than is consumed, including room heating, warm water, and electricity.
Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe - variant 1
144 residential units will be created, which are designed barrier-free. The apartment sizes are variable, so that one can respond flexibly to emerging needs. The land area on the terrace between Julius-Leber-Road and Von-Witzleben-Road is 21,000 square meters. The plan has a total floor space of 15,500 square meters. 13,000 square meters of living space are to be realized - which gives a very favorable ratio to the total floor area.
Traffic and Access
The central area remains free of cars, creating attractive spaces for neighborly interaction, for communication between young and old alike. The car access to Bettina-von-Armin-Höfe for is via the terrace below. The road between the houses remains largely free of traffic: a space for kids to play on, and an undisturbed,
Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe - variant 2
Section through Bettina-von-Arnim-Terrace (Variant 1)
The Plusenergy concept
The terrace of Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe is about 20,000 square meters in size, very wide and orientated towards the southwest, so it offers good conditions for solar buildings. The building will get highly effective insulation and sealing in order to achieve passive house standard, so that the room heating demand is below 15 kWh per square meter per year.
The roofs are used for the generation of electricity. They are made of photovoltaic modules, which are not applied on a tile roof, but are themselves the roof. A crucial point is the quality of the design.
Meanwhile, we have reached "grid parity", which means that the costs per kWh and the feed-in tariff for PV electricity is at or below the consumer price. This is why the concept is not based primarily on feeding into the public grid, but allows the highest possible self-consumption. The photovoltaic power plant is at 800kWp. In relation to the solar irradiation conditions on the spot, annual revenues of approximately 700,000 kWh can be expected. This means an equivalent saving of about 190,000 liters of oil.
There is an existing district heating network for the complete area of the “Ziethen” terraces of which the Bettina-von-Arnim-Höfe are a part. This is fueled exclusively by biogas. A connection of the buildings to the network is not only possible, but also desired by the local authorities of the city of Göttingen and the power plant operators. Yet, the authorities leave the possibility of a separate supply unit for this single project, when a particularly innovative concept is presented. Centralized and decentralized solutions are being examined, as well as various primary energy sources.
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Berlin-Möckernkiez
1st prize and order
The citizens’ cooperative for the 30,000 square meters construction site “Moeckernkiez” on the edge of “Gleisdreieck” park in Berlin-Kreuzberg set up an invited two-stage design competition: The requirements were high. What they want is nothing less than a unique and very ambitious lighthouse project that combines a cooperative and multi-generation and multi-cultural living approach with integration of disabled people, and which at the same time sets new standards for environmental sustainability,
70 offices had applied, nine of them were invited to hand in a competition design, five offices were eventually chosen (without a further ranking differentiation). Each of these five, including Rolf Disch Solar architecture, were assigned one or more buildings in the area.
Urban planning concept
Based on the given urban context Rolf Disch suggested the following changes:
1) Improved connection of Moeckernkiez to the Kreuzberg district by introducing a large square on the street level of Moeckernstrasse / Yorckstrasse. At this level, the public uses of the district such as shops, hotel, neighborhood workshops, etc. are located.
2) Improved connection of Moeckernkiez towards the park and Schoeneberg (tube stations) by the district square towards the west.
3) Internal connection: Both squares are connected by a curved axis, to which additional little neighbourhood squares are
attached.
Building construction concept
In the conception and design of the buildings we were guided by the following terms:
- Cost / economic feasibility
- Flexibility
- Environment / Energy
- Design
- Variety, attractions
- Accessibility for disabled
Based on a simple and economical construction, Rolf Disch Solar Architecture designed a building block system for various floor plans and apartment sizes. These floor plans can be arranged flexibly in the two proposed building structures and thus create a variety of different situations, reacting to the specific requirements. Within these building structures and floorplan schemes, variants such as individual lofts and shared flats, large and small flats are possible. Also, various commercial uses can be integrated easily. Basically: The floor plans are highly flexible and can adapt easily to changing wishes and necessities.
Energy - Ecology
All buildings are planned as plusenergy buildings, i.e. they produce more energy than they consume over one year. The building envelope is highly insulated and reduces the thermal losses to a minimum, together with a ventilation system with heat recovery.
Berlin-Möckernkiez
"Moeckernkiez" (site map drawn by hochC Landschaftsarchitektur)
The citizens’ cooperative for the 30,000 square meters construction site “Moeckernkiez” on the edge of “Gleisdreieck” park in Berlin-Kreuzberg set up an invited two-stage design competition: The requirements were high. What they want is nothing less than a unique and very ambitious lighthouse project that combines a cooperative and multi-generation and multi-cultural living approach with integration of disabled people, and which at the same time sets new standards for environmental sustainability,
70 offices had applied, nine of them were invited to hand in a competition design, five offices were eventually chosen (without a further ranking differentiation). Each of these five, including Rolf Disch Solar architecture, were assigned one or more buildings in the area.
Urban planning concept
Based on the given urban context Rolf Disch suggested the following changes:
Housing row (view from east)
2) Improved connection of Moeckernkiez towards the park and Schoeneberg (tube stations) by the district square towards the west.
3) Internal connection: Both squares are connected by a curved axis, to which additional little neighbourhood squares are
Pilot project "Moeckernkiez", perspective (Rendering: Loomilux)
Building construction concept
In the conception and design of the buildings we were guided by the following terms:
- Cost / economic feasibility
- Flexibility
- Environment / Energy
- Design
- Variety, attractions
- Accessibility for disabled
Apartment complex, floor plan (design by Rolf Disch Solar Architecture)
Energy - Ecology
All buildings are planned as plusenergy buildings, i.e. they produce more energy than they consume over one year. The building envelope is highly insulated and reduces the thermal losses to a minimum, together with a ventilation system with heat recovery.
Pilot project "Moeckernkiez" - view from the park (Rendering: Loomilux)
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Housing Groups in Weissach
The municipality of Weissach projected to develop two lots with PlusEnergy houses from Rolf Disch Solar Architecture in a new development area. Two varieties were suggested:
The first variety is designed with two multi-story buildings. Both buildings have two main floors and a loft level. In the basements are garages as well as storage and technical rooms.
In the basement of one of the buildings you will find a commercial unit to be used as a store, practice or office that is accessible from ground level at its other entrance on Porschestraße.
The entrance of the buildings was carried out partially on the North side with steps and partially with covered walkways, which also allow for a barrier free access. The roof for both houses is designed as a pitch roof, which is slanted against the slope in order to optimize solar power generation. Alternatively, a double pitch roof can be implemented, although with that one reduces the available space for photovoltaic installation.
As an alternative, the second variation was envisioned with four town homes, each with teo full floors and a third loft level that looks down to the second level.
Housing Groups in Weissach
Housing Groups - West Elevation
The first variety is designed with two multi-story buildings. Both buildings have two main floors and a loft level. In the basements are garages as well as storage and technical rooms.
Housing Groups - Section
The entrance of the buildings was carried out partially on the North side with steps and partially with covered walkways, which also allow for a barrier free access. The roof for both houses is designed as a pitch roof, which is slanted against the slope in order to optimize solar power generation. Alternatively, a double pitch roof can be implemented, although with that one reduces the available space for photovoltaic installation.
As an alternative, the second variation was envisioned with four town homes, each with teo full floors and a third loft level that looks down to the second level.
Housing Groups - Layout
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The Powerbox
The power box is the brain, heart and lungs of the plus energy house. Here all functional devices are put together: energy and access, building technology and piping. From here, all circuits are coordinated: water and electricity, heat and air.
The Model contains the entrance area and the stairs. Bathroom, toilets and kitchen are either in the box adjacent to it. The ventilation system is installed here - with heat recovery of an efficiency of over 90%.
Above all, located right at the entrance, you find the room for all technical devices such as the solar station, heat storage, electric distribution, and all metering devices. So the house owner can easily control both production and consumption of resources.
The power box is delivered prefab. This has three advantages: First, through standardization and prefabrication high quality is guaranteed. Second, the construction time can be shortened. Once the box is there, the construction of the whole house does not take long. And thirdly it saves a lot of money.
The Power Box was designed for different applications and types of houses: for detached houses and terraced houses as well as for multi-storey housing. - Some applications can be seen here:
The Powerbox
Powerbox
The Model contains the entrance area and the stairs. Bathroom, toilets and kitchen are either in the box adjacent to it. The ventilation system is installed here - with heat recovery of an efficiency of over 90%.
Above all, located right at the entrance, you find the room for all technical devices such as the solar station, heat storage, electric distribution, and all metering devices. So the house owner can easily control both production and consumption of resources.
The power box is delivered prefab. This has three advantages: First, through standardization and prefabrication high quality is guaranteed. Second, the construction time can be shortened. Once the box is there, the construction of the whole house does not take long. And thirdly it saves a lot of money.
The Power Box was designed for different applications and types of houses: for detached houses and terraced houses as well as for multi-storey housing. - Some applications can be seen here:
