Franz Plesch
Alte Blechwarenfabrik. FH Aachen (Germany)
Task
The old sheet metal factory, on a 1.5-acre site in Siegen's industrial zone, consists of concrete warehouses. The project aims to upgrade these buildings and develop the area, focusing on integrating a vacant space in the south with an open space concept. The goal is to create a suburban centre with sustainable, "net-zero" design, prioritizing emission reduction through design and engineering for energy efficiency.
Concept
Existing spatial edges are incorporated, presenting solitary buildings in the design. New volumes face south. The site is bounded by a busy road to the south and a railroad to the north. To minimize noise within the inner area, first-floor volumes serve as sound barriers. Existing buildings are integrated along the railroad line, forming a boundary.
The clear grid is characteristic of the design. Regular from left to right, and irregular from bottom to top, responding to the spatial edges of the existing buildings. An ordered disorder.
The industrial stock in its existing layout is not designed for a residential concept. It will be dismantled down to its reinforced concrete skeleton and provided with a new facade. The roof and walls of the warehouse to the south will be removed.
The building's utilization concept promotes mixed living arrangements, with three different residential modules alternately stacked across the area. The old building features cluster apartments with spacious communal areas on each floor, while commercial spaces on the ground floor open up to the neighbourhood. The buildings are accessed via arcades.
The materials and construction method for the new buildings prioritize sustainability. Both the new building modules and the refurbished old building's facade will use modular wood construction. An energy analysis was conducted to ensure passive house standard for the wall and ceiling constructions.
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