2020 is the year of the IBA Basel. Ten years of hard work come together in the exhibition year. We present the projects and the project managers.
Germany and Switzerland (Photo: © IBA Basel/Daniel Spehr)
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Between the Old and the New
Building design
The Technical City Hall in Tübingen, designed by a+r Architekten, pays homage to postwar architecture with its simple construction principles and minimal use of materials. At the same time, the architects adapted the building to the present day—transforming it into an open, community-oriented structure built using resource-efficient construction methods. At the heart of the ensemble—comprising both the old and new buildings—is a light-filled atrium where the original facade, light, slate, wood, windows, transparency, sustainability, energy, A/V ratio, perforated facade, Passive House standard, renewableenergy, and geothermal energy—geothermal energy: the use of thermal energy from the earth as a renewable energy source. Geothermal energy is an alternative form of energy based on the use of geothermal heat. It involves harnessing the thermal energy stored in the earth to generate electricity and heat. Geothermal energy is a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source, as it isvirtually… and solar systems. The expansion represents a sustainable and value-stable investment by the city in its administration and in the care of its citizens. In the architecture, this philosophy is aptly reflected in the use of recycled concrete, the low maintenance requirements due to the durable brick facade, and the high flexibility of the floor plans.
Gateway to the City Center and Urban Green Space
With their design, the architects deliberately developed a solution that differed from the competition’s specifications. Unlike the requirement, which called for the extension with its main entrance to be located at the rear of the existing building on the north side, a+r Architekten placed the extension on the south side between the existing building and Brunnenstraße. “It was important to us that the extension follow the curve of the street and form a clearly defined urban space. The result is an inviting main entrance and unobstructed views toward the city center. On the north side, thanks to our compact, space-saving structure, we deliberately created space for a valuable green area along the Ammer,” summarizes the project manager.
Facts & Figures:
Planning and construction period: 2016–2019
Design firm: a+r Architekten GmbH
Client: University City of Tübingen
Project address: Tübingen
GFA: Gross floor area of the existing building: 4,975 m². The gross floor area of the addition is approximately 3,165 m²
About a+r Architekten
a+r Architekten is committed to solid, environmentally responsible, and forward-looking architecture, with proven expertise in sustainable construction—including the renovation of existing buildings. Founded in 1985 by Prof. Gerd Ackermann and Prof. Hellmut Raff, the firm—with offices in Stuttgart and Tübingen—employs around 130 people and is currently led by Oliver Braun, Florian Gruner, and Alexander Lange. a+r Architekten primarily works for public clients, industry and commerce, municipal housing authorities, and social institutions. The firm focuses on appropriate, ecological, functional, and—as a result—innovative construction methods and has been honored with prestigious awards for its work.
My affectionate affair, architecture – Mail from Berlin (2)
Building design
Part of the up-and-coming Europacity: the Kunstcampus project by léonwohlhage is nearing completion and offers high-quality living on the site of a former art gallery (Photo: Andi Maierhofer)
Baumeister Academy winner Andreas Maierhofer is in love. Heavily. The first weeks of his internship at leónwohlhage in Berlin are over and his passionate liaison with architecture is in full swing.
New city, new office, new people, new projects, new tasks, new love?
I’m in a frenzy of emotions. I met her four weeks ago. She is exciting. She has cast a spell over me. And now she won’t let me go. She wants more. More time, more attention. Initial infatuation turned into passionate devotion and now a solid relationship. While I tried to keep my new affair at a distance at the beginning, she became more demanding and affectionate from day to day. I’m not talking about a woman, but about an old acquaintance, architecture.
The adventure in Berlin with léonwohlhage has been going on for four weeks now and it still tingles like on the first day. Only the classic shame that you feel at the beginning of every new relationship has now given way to a pleasant familiarity. I have found my place in the competition team. Here I work with my colleagues in an area of responsibility that probably comes closest to that of the university. Not only because it primarily involves purely conceptual activities, but also because it has parallels in terms of somewhat unsuccessful time management – whether that’s depressing or reassuring remains to be seen. In contrast to university, however, it is not, as is so often the case, various leisure activities that usually seem more interesting than working on your own design until shortly before the deadline. It’s the continuous development of each idea. Every day until the deadline is spent questioning the concept anew. It is not uncommon for the best ideas to come just before the deadline. Which brings us back to the dilemma: the exciting but time-consuming love-hate relationship with architecture.
Social life gives way to architecture
In the last two weeks before the deadline, the days get longer and longer and you share more and more dinners with your work colleagues. I realize that you need a lot of passion for architecture to give yourself over to it so recklessly. It’s good to do this in an environment where you can have a beer at midnight between all the plans.