28.01.2026

Rethinking the vestibule: convenience and efficiency at the entrance

Building design

The photo shows a tall, sustainable building with numerous windows next to trees. Photo by Alex Lakas.

Vestibules – hardly any other component is so underestimated, so little loved and so neglected. Yet the entrance determines how efficient a building really is, how comfortable everyday life is and how serious the architect is about sustainability. It’s time to rethink the vestibule – radically. Because anyone who continues to copy standard solutions here is wasting potential. Welcome to the engine room of entrance culture.

Analysis of the status quo: vestibule architecture in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – between compulsory exercise and design gag
New technologies and digital concepts for the vestibule: from smart sensors to AI-supported comfort control
Interface between energy efficiency, user comfort and sustainable construction methods
Planning errors, misunderstandings and myths surrounding the vestibule
Why the DIN standard alone is no longer enough – and which technical skills are required today
Debate about aesthetics versus purpose: How much design freedom can function tolerate?
Global trends: How other countries are using the entrance area as an innovation laboratory
Professional implications: Why the vestibule is becoming the benchmark for future-proof architecture
Visions for the entrance of the future – and what the profession can learn from them

The status quo: vestibules between a building obligation and a building joke

In German-speaking countries, the vestibule, the architectural prelude to the building, ekes out an existence between building law necessity and design arbitrariness. In Germany, state building regulations and energy saving ordinances explicitly stipulate the vestibule for many building types; in Austria and Switzerland, it is also anchored in the building regulations. However, what is declared on paper as a threshold between outside and inside, as a climate buffer and comfort guarantor, often degenerates in practice into a minimalist glass cube that serves at best as a storage room for baby carriages and advertising brochures. Here, standard prevails over statement, function over finesse. And this despite the fact that the vestibule is actually the bottleneck of all energy, functional and design considerations. While building owners and planners often resort to the smallest permissible solution for fear of additional costs or loss of space, they miss out on the enormous potential offered by this space on the threshold. Switzerland, for example, traditionally sees the vestibule as part of the overall concept, uses it consistently in passive houses and assigns it a central role in user guidance and heat buffering. In Germany, on the other hand, the vestibule often remains an alibi – and in Austria a design side note. Those who settle for the minimum here not only risk draughts and energy losses, but also miss the opportunity to turn the entrance to the building into an experience, a filter and a comfort zone. Building practice is characterized by misunderstandings: The vestibule is seen as an annex, not as an integral part of the design. The result: a room that can do everything and nothing right.

To date, the vestibule has rarely been consistently rethought. Most projects are based on DIN specifications, thermal calculations and the fear of user complaints. Bold approaches that see the vestibule as a multifunctional hybrid, as a control center for access, climate and communication, are still exotic in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Projects from Scandinavia and the Netherlands show how the vestibule can be turned into an experience zone, a climate gateway and a social meeting point. In Germany, however, the fear of experimentation dominates – and the hope that the vestibule will be as unobtrusive as possible. Yet this is precisely the place to combine architectural attitude, technological innovation and sustainable thinking. Because if you underestimate the entrance, you underestimate the building.

Today, the vestibule is what the garage was in the 1970s: a necessary evil that needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. The result: cheap materials, careless details, no interfaces to smart technology. Yet the vestibule has long since become a touchstone for the modernity of a building. Saving here means paying twice – in terms of energy, comfort and user satisfaction. This has been recognized in Switzerland: Here, vestibules are increasingly being staged as interactive climate zones that intelligently control temperature, light and access and serve as a communication space for residents. In Germany, on the other hand, the vestibule often remains a place of passage, not of arrival. The consequence: a space that delivers neither comfort nor energy efficiency.

The discrepancy between aspiration and reality in the vestibule is symptomatic of German building culture: the standard is met, but the potential is ignored. The vestibule is seen as a cost center, not as a source of added value. Yet this is precisely the lever for better building performance, greater user satisfaction and sustainable operation. Current practice is characterized by minimalism, standard details and fear of the new. Anyone who thinks differently here is ridiculed – and ultimately copied. The Windfang is a reflection of the industry: pragmatic, cautious, but rarely visionary.

In Austria and Switzerland, they are at least one step ahead: here, the vestibule is increasingly seen as a laboratory for new materials, control concepts and interfaces between inside and outside. Projects with adaptive façades, automated door systems or thermal buffer storage in the entrance area show that the vestibule can do more than just provide separation. But here too, everyday life dominates: much remains prototype, little becomes standard. There is a lack of courage, a lack of budget – and a lack of willingness to see the vestibule as real added value.

Innovation at the entrance: digital transformation meets the vestibule

Digitalization does not stop at the vestibule. Sensors, actuators, AI-supported control systems and smart access solutions are revolutionizing the entrance area – at least in theory. In practice, many approaches remain patchwork: a motion detector here, a fingerprint scanner there and an automatic door that gets stuck in winter. But the potential is enormous. Today, modern vestibules can be networked in such a way that they react in real time to user flows, weather conditions and energy requirements. Sensors measure temperature, humidity and CO₂ concentration, while AI algorithms control ventilation, lighting and access. The vestibule becomes a data-driven interface between the building and the environment. It sounds like science fiction, but it is already a reality in pilot projects in Switzerland and Austria.

The new generation of vestibules thinks of the entrance area as a dynamic system that balances convenience, security and efficiency. Automated airlocks prevent energy losses, feedback systems inform users about air quality or visitor frequency, adaptive controls adjust opening times and air conditioning to real-life behavior. Digitalization thus not only opens up new dimensions of comfort, but also turns the vestibule into a controllable, evaluable and optimizable space for the first time. In Vienna, for example, vestibules in residential buildings are considered part of the smart building infrastructure, which exchanges data with other parts of the building and thus enables holistic building performance.

However, digitalization also harbours risks. Digitizing the vestibule opens the door to data protection problems, system failures and complexity traps. Not every user wants their access to be logged, their movements analysed and their climate optimized. Architecture faces the challenge of integrating technology without dehumanizing or overburdening the space. In Germany, skepticism is high: many planners fear that digital vestibules are too expensive, require too much maintenance or are not robust enough. As a result, isolated solutions are used that neither convince users nor operators.

Nevertheless, the vestibule is predestined for digital transformation. No other space is such an interface between inside and outside, between people and technology, between security and freedom. Modern access systems, smart climate control, automated cleaning – all of this is technically possible and economically viable today. The challenge: planners and building owners must learn to think of the vestibule as a networked system, not as a static box. Those who are courageous here can set new standards – and turn the entrance into a laboratory for innovation.

Digitalization is forcing the industry to question old ways of thinking. Anyone who sees the vestibule as a data room can no longer just plan according to standards and gut feeling. They need technical know-how, interface expertise and the will to integrate new tools. The vestibule becomes a yardstick for the digital maturity of a building – and for the courage of planners to redefine comfort and efficiency.

Sustainability and efficiency: the vestibule as a climate interface

The sustainability debate has so far had surprisingly little impact on the porch. While insulation, building technology and renewable energies are in the spotlight, the entrance area often remains underexposed in terms of energy. Yet the vestibule is the first and last climate buffer of a building – and therefore crucial for energy consumption, indoor climate and user comfort. Modern vestibule concepts therefore rely on multi-layered climate zones, thermal separation and adaptive controls that minimize temperature jumps, draughts and heat loss.

In technical terms, the vestibule is a complex system: doors, glazing, seals, ventilation systems and floor coverings must be coordinated in such a way that they not only prevent energy loss, but also guarantee comfort and accessibility. In Switzerland, the vestibule has long been seen as an integral part of passive house and Minergie concepts. Here, the entrance area becomes a thermal airlock that saves heating and cooling energy and increases comfort in the interior. In Austria, several pilot projects have been developed in recent years in which vestibules work with integrated heat recovery systems and sensor-controlled ventilation.

The challenge: the vestibule must not only function in terms of energy efficiency, but also be architecturally impressive. Those who rely solely on technology here risk sterile transition zones in which users feel more like they are in a car wash than in an entrance area. The trick is to combine sustainability, comfort and design quality. Adaptive materials, intelligent control and flexible room concepts are required here – but also the courage to design. After all, the vestibule is not just a climate zone, but also the calling card of the building.

In Germany, there is still a lot of catching up to do when it comes to vestibules and sustainability. Most projects rely on classic solutions: double doors, minimal glazing, a bit of sealing – that’s it. Innovative approaches such as thermochromic glazing, sensor-controlled air locks or reversible vestibules are rarely implemented. Yet international research shows that there is great potential here for energy savings and user comfort. Anyone who understands the vestibule as a climate interface can optimize the entire energy balance of the building.

The vestibule is therefore more than just a necessary evil – it is a key component of sustainable architecture. If you rethink it, you can save energy, increase comfort and minimize the building’s ecological footprint. But this requires technical expertise, the courage to innovate and a willingness to think outside the box. The vestibule is the new laboratory for sustainable building technology – if you let it.

Technical expertise and new job profiles: What planners need to know now

The vestibule, long the poor relation of architecture, is developing into a high-tech interface that requires new skills and a broader understanding of technology. Traditional planning routines are no longer sufficient. Anyone designing a vestibule today must be as familiar with door systems, sensor technology, control technology, accessibility and user comfort as they are with energy efficiency, materials science and digital networking. The complexity is increasing, the requirements are growing – and the responsibility of planners is increasing.

In particular, the focus is shifting to interface expertise. The vestibule is not a single room, but a hub between architecture, building services, electrical planning, IT and user experience. Planners must learn to communicate with specialist planners, product manufacturers and software developers on an equal footing. The ability to coordinate trades, recognize system boundaries and use digital tools is becoming a basic requirement. Those who fail to do so will quickly be left behind.

At the same time, job profiles are changing: The traditional architect is becoming an integrator, an interface manager and a comfort designer. The ability to evaluate technical innovations, integrate digital systems and anticipate user needs is becoming a unique selling point. The vestibule is just the testing ground – the real challenge lies in transferring these skills to the entire building. But those who learn here can actively shape change in the industry.

Training is lagging behind practice. While universities usually treat the vestibule as a marginal topic, the requirements in construction practice are growing rapidly. Further training courses, interdisciplinary teams and new tools are needed to keep pace with technical complexity. Planners must learn to work with data, manage interfaces and integrate user feedback into planning. The vestibule thus becomes a learning field for the architecture of the future.

Those who see the vestibule as an opportunity can tap into new added value. Smart solutions that combine convenience, efficiency and sustainability will become a distinguishing feature on the market. But this requires courage, knowledge and the willingness to throw old routines overboard. The future of the porch is digital, connected and convenient – if the industry wants it.

Global perspectives and visions: The vestibule as a laboratory for the future

An international comparison clearly shows how differently the vestibule is conceived and built. Scandinavian countries rely on spacious, multifunctional entrance areas that serve as airlocks, checkrooms, communal areas and even meeting zones. In Japan, vestibules are designed as adaptive transition zones that adjust seasonally and act as filters for temperature, humidity and particulate matter. In the US, the vestibule is often part of a larger foyer that combines access, safety and comfort. The differences are great – but the goal is the same everywhere: to stage the entrance as an experience, as a filter and as a comfort zone.

Global trends show that the vestibule is becoming a laboratory for innovation. New materials, smart control systems, adaptive climate zones and digital access solutions are first tested here before they spill over into the building. In Singapore, for example, vestibules are seen as part of the smart city concept, networked with public space, mobility and building technology. In Scandinavia, experiments are being carried out with wind catchers that function as social meeting points and as an interface between the neighborhood and the private sphere. Architecture is becoming a service provider – the vestibule a prototype for user-centricity and sustainability.

The debate about the vestibule is globally characterized by the question: How much technology can people tolerate at the entrance? Where does convenience end and surveillance begin? How can user needs, energy efficiency and design requirements be reconciled? The answers are as varied as the projects – and yet there is a common denominator: the vestibule is a yardstick for the innovative strength, user orientation and sustainability strategy of a building.

Visionary ideas range from fully automated, AI-controlled vestibules to adaptive façade systems and vestibules as social platforms. The boundaries between inside and outside, between private and public, between analog and digital are becoming blurred. The vestibule becomes a stage for architecture, technology and society – and a symbol of the industry’s self-image.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland have some catching up to do – but also enormous potential. Those who see the vestibule as a laboratory for the future can set new standards, test innovations and create real added value here. The global perspective shows: The vestibule is not a relic of building regulations, but the gateway to the architecture of tomorrow.

Conclusion: Anyone who underestimates the vestibule is building without meeting demand

The vestibule is far more than a compulsory exercise under building regulations or an energy fig leaf. It is the hinge between comfort, efficiency and innovation – and therefore the touchstone for the future viability of architecture. Those who continue to rely on standard solutions, minimalism and fear of technology not only risk energy losses and user frustration, but also miss the opportunity to rethink architecture. The vestibule is the laboratory of the future: digital, networked, sustainable and convenient. It’s time to finally take it seriously – as a ticket to the next generation of building.

05.11.2024

New master houses for Dessau

Building design

The famous Meisterhaus estate has been repaired, according to Dessau. Repaired, not reconstructed. This language is important to politicians, conservationists and architects, because for decades there was a dispute about how to deal with the famous Meisterhaus estate near the even more famous Bauhaus buildings in Dessau. There were loud calls to rebuild the two houses that were hit by a bomb in 1945 – […]

The famous Meisterhaus estate has been repaired, they say in Dessau. Repaired, not reconstructed. This language is important to politicians, conservationists and architects, because for decades there was a dispute about how to deal with the famous Meisterhaus estate near the even more famous Bauhaus buildings in Dessau. There were loud voices rejecting the rebuilding of the two houses that were hit by a bomb in 1945 – the single Gropius house and the semi-detached Moholy-Nagy house.

However, after the existing Masters’ Houses were restored in 1992, the flaws became all the more apparent. After several projects by the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation on the issue of “updating modernism” and several architectural competitions, it was not only the city – as the owner of the estate at the time
owner of the estate at the time – that the entire artists’ colony could only be visualized in a way that was compatible with the preservation order if the building lines and cubatures of the destroyed buildings were also restored.

On May 16, Federal President Joachim Gauck opened the “repaired estate”, which now once again consists of the house of director Walter Gropius and the three semi-detached houses Moholy-Nagy/Feininger, Muche/Schlemmer and Klee/Kandinsky.

The two new houses correspond exactly to the old ones in terms of their external dimensions, the arrangement of the structures and the position of the windows. However, with “built blurs”, as the Berlin architects Bruno Fioretti Marquez describe their way of repairing the Meisterhaus estate as a total work of art. Seen from the outside, this means that any view through the gray window surfaces is denied. The houses appear almost ghostly and a little unreal. Inside, the principle of “built blurriness” continues elegantly and effortlessly. The historical position of ceilings, walls and staircases was taken as a model, but parts of the ceilings and walls were omitted. In this way, completely new views, rooms and balconies were created in the dimensions of the original layout, which seem far removed from the intimacy of the neighboring, originally preserved residential buildings and yet are closely related to them. Uta Baier
You can read a detailed review of the reconstructed Dessau master houses in issue 07.2014.

09.12.2024

“Warnow offers Rostock a unique opportunity”

Building design

A conversation about the BUGA 2025 in Rostock with Anja Epper, Head of Department at the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Planning and Economy.

The city of Rostock plans to host the BUGA 2025 in a few years’ time, and a completely new district at the Osthafen is set to become one of its core projects: the Warnowquartier – funded with a total of 74.2 million euros. Last summer, we spoke to Anja Epper, Head of Department at the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Planning and Economy, about Rostock’s water projects of the future for the June 2020 issue of Garten + Landschaft.

Anja Epper, we start with a current project of the city of Rostock. The Hanseatic city has been working for almost ten years to update the structural concept for Warnemünde, probably the city’s best-known district. However, there are always problems with implementation. Why?

In 2011, the Rostock city council adopted the Warnemünde structural concept. Regular evaluation was already anchored in the resolution. The process of updating the concept began in 2016/17. A number of questions relating to the various fields of action in the structural concept could not be answered in the update, either because political decisions were not available at the time or because decisions could not be made.

This concerned, among other things, the further development of the shipyard areas in the south-east of the district, the handling of the parking space concept, the further development of a possible caravan site and the development of the housing market. Another key topic was the future development of the Mittelmole. Here, it was not possible to reach a consensus on a few key points in civil society and politics, but also with the owners of the land and the specialist administration.

As a result, the new mayor of Rostock, Claus Ruhe Madsen, halted plans for the future use and development of Warnemünde’s Mittelmole for the time being last September. Why is the development of the area so difficult?

Further planning for the central pier in Warnemünde was put on hold last year. With the mayor’s decision, we are starting the work process again, including participation in the update. As in many places, there is a classic conflict at the Mittelmole: the residents want no or very small-scale or minimal development with a more historicist design. At the same time, there is a strong desire for communal open spaces and meeting places. Investors want to build the necessary apartments and infrastructure, but these must also be considered from an economic point of view. In addition, contemporary architecture is generally required for new construction projects.

There was supposed to be a public exhibition at the start of the public participation process last April. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. What is the plan now?

The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on public participation in planning processes – possibly even in the long term. We are therefore currently considering which participation formats we can implement online. These include an exhibition. But with all digital solutions, there is always a lack of direct exchange. This is particularly difficult with informal participation. We are also looking for appropriate solutions for other formats such as public meetings, which can be held in small groups and with the necessary minimum distance.

Water as an economic basis

As a Hanseatic city, you in the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Urban Planning and Economics are particularly confronted with how to deal with water in the city. What significance does the element of water have for the city of Rostock?

The relationship to water has always been of outstanding importance in the history of the city. The city’s urban and economic development is still based on its location on the Baltic Sea/Warnow – and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future. In particular, ports, shipbuilding, the navy, tourism and fishing are to be mentioned here. It is precisely the facets and changes in these areas that are constantly driving urban development. In addition to the increasing demand for living space and all the associated facilities for the numerous employees, these are the location requirements in detail, such as more and different areas as well as their access and connection, but also relocations or the abandonment of areas, which opens up new planning possibilities.

In principle, planning is about securing water and all necessary areas as an economic basis and at the same time improving access and the experience of water for the public. Of course, the many ecological and nature conservation concerns must also be taken into account in this context.

Taking sea level rise into account

What particular challenges do you face in Rostock due to its proximity to the sea?

One particular challenge is protection against storm surges, i.e. flood protection. The technical responsibility for flood protection lies with the State Office for Agriculture and the Environment, Central Mecklenburg (StALU MM). The StALU MM is responsible for the protection of the outer coast as well as the protection along the Warnow. There is a constant coordination process between the StALU MM and the city (primarily the Office for Environmental Protection, but also the Office for Urban Development, Urban Planning and Economics). This relates to fundamental issues such as the course of the flood protection line and keeping endangered areas free of construction use, but also to the specific individual construction measures.

From an urban planning perspective, the focus is on ensuring the necessary protection for planned new construction areas (including the height of roads and floors), but also on the form of construction and design of protective facilities (especially in sensitive areas such as the Alter Strom in Warnemünde and the city harbor). Another important topic is the consideration of the rise in sea level caused by climate change.

Rostock: a green city by the sea

You have been working on the “Rostock Future Plan” since 2018. What is this about?

The “Rostock Future Plan” is the working title for the future land use plan of the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock. The land use plan adopted by the city council in 2006 and published in 2009 has so far proved its worth as a preparatory, generalized plan for controlling the city’s spatial development. However, based on the development dynamics expected in many areas in the future, it is becoming apparent that the land use plan currently in force does not adequately reflect the development required in the future.

The pace at which Rostock must develop in the coming years requires a holistic and coherent reconsideration. The city council therefore decided back in 2017 to draw up a new land use plan. In preparation for this, an extensive city dialog was held in 2018/19 for an intensive public exchange on the contents of the “Rostock Future Plan”.

There are also the “Rostock 2025” guidelines, which define Rostock as a “green city by the sea”, among other things …

Exactly, the guidelines for the urban development of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock were adopted by the city council in 2012. They represent the long-term strategic framework for action for the city of Rostock on its way to sustainable urban development by 2025. They form the basis for the Integrative Urban Development Concept (ISEK), urban land-use planning and all specialist municipal concepts and plans. This also includes, for example, the “Rostock Future Plan” (land use plan). The future plan is aimed at the overarching mission statement (“Positioning Rostock as a regiopole”) and contributes to achieving the goals set out in the eight guidelines (e.g. the “Green City by the Sea” guideline) and the cross-sectional tasks.

BUGA 2025 projects

Hamburg recently announced its plans for the Grasbrook district. What projects can we look forward to in Rostock in the coming years? What are you planning?

You have already mentioned the Mittelmole in Warnemünde. Linked to this planning is the conversion of further quays in the area of the former shipyard basin for cruise tourism and additional commercial space on land, which is currently being planned. A particularly important project for the urban development of Rostock is the bid to host the BUGA 2025, with many far-reaching individual measures and a direct link to the Warnow.

The State Museum of Archaeology, which is to be built in the city harbor, is part of the plans for BUGA 2025. Another outstanding project with a direct connection to the water is the planned “Ocean Technology Campus” (OTC), with the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) at its core and a large-scale underwater test field “Digital Ocean Lab”. The OTC is to be built in the area of Rostock’s cargo and fishing port and on the site of the former abattoir to the south.

The city is also planning to develop a new, mixed-use district on the eastern bank of the Unterwarnow. The Warnowquartier.

Yes, the Warnowquartier is to be developed as a green model city of the future – an experimental quarter that demonstrates exemplary solutions to the pressing problems of our time. Starting with the development of a regenerative energy concept for the district, through to answering the question of how residents can organize their daily lives together in a sustainable way, as well as considering which tasks public open and green spaces should take on in the coming years and how new mobility concepts can be implemented sustainably, innovative ideas and proven measures for district development are to be incorporated into the concept.

The aim is to create a modern district for everyone with a model development and lots of open spaces. A place of diversity and flexible uses with a robust, future-oriented basic structure. Building on the water will also play a special role and form an architectural highlight. For the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock, this project offers a unique opportunity to implement the theme of life on the water in the city for the first time and to present itself with original, forward-looking and exemplary solutions. As part of BUGA 2025, which will take place in Rostock, the main focus for visitors will be on this attraction, which will make a further contribution to the city’s maritime image.

BUGA 2025 is to take place despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Anja Epper studied architecture with a focus on urban planning at RWTH Aachen University. She has been Head of the Building Projects and Urban Design Department at the Rostock Office for Urban Development, Urban Planning and Economics since 1996. Anja Epper is a member of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Chamber of Architects and a board member of SRL e.V.

Interested in Federal Garden Shows? Read more about BUGA Heilbronn here.

The interview first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Garten + Landschaft.