Case Study
In Eschbach, Germany, LAIS Architecktur created a sustainable timber hybrid building in Dekton Zenith by Cosentino
LAIS Architecktur
Location
Eschbach (Germany)
Construction
Wittenauer
Colour
Zenith
End date
2023
Architecture/Design
Rudolf J. Lais, LAIS Architecktur
Material
Dekton
Application
Ventilated facade
Photography
Markus Edgar Ruf
The Volksbank Breisgau-Markgräflerland focuses on regional solidarity, responsibility and trust. In the so-called Wertehaus, V-shaped columns surround the solid core of the building. They support the wooden construction of the storey cantilevers, from which the view extends far over the Black Forest, the Rhine plain and the Vosges Mountains. The rear-ventilated curtain façade with light-coloured, large-format Dekton panels ensures high energy efficiency.
"This building is the symbol of our quality promise, which is based on value-based and sustainable action," is how Norbert Lange, Chairman of the Board of Volksbank Breisgau-Markgräflerland eG, describes the new office and advisory centre. During construction, the cooperative financial institution focused on the most energy-efficient management possible, the use of sustainable building materials and the awarding of contracts to regional planners and craftsmen.
Energy efficient management
"Innovation begins where tradition opens up to new trends," is the motto of architect Rudolf J. Lais, who designed and realised the Wertehaus with his team. With the basement and ground floor, the first and second floors and the light-flooded attic, the building offers around 2,630 square metres of usable space. It houses 70 office workplaces, meeting and consulting rooms as well as the cafeteria. The electricity comes mainly from a battery-buffered photovoltaic system. Groundwater is used for the toilets and outdoor irrigation.
The technical centre is located in the basement, which is made of reinforced concrete. Here, the supply and exhaust air for the entire building is efficiently pre-heated via heat exchangers. On cold days, floor convectors can be switched on, which are operated with district heating from a regional thermal residual waste treatment and energy generation plant (TREA). Cooling is provided by groundwater, which is fed into the ceilings of the rooms via a pipe system and then back into the ground.
Sustainable building materials
Around the statically necessary concrete core with supply lines, stairs and the lift, the cantilevers of the storeys were built with prefabricated timber cavity ceilings. Regional silver fir products from the Black Forest were also chosen for the wall and ceiling cladding. Particular attention was paid to comfortable acoustics and impact insulation as well as an optimally healthy room climate, especially in the consulting and office areas.
Plenty of daylight is provided by glare-free solar protection windows with blinds integrated into the curtain-type rear-ventilated façade. The cladding of around 700 square metres of Dekton Zenith by Cosentino in 12 mm thickness consists of natural and recycled mineral particles that have been compressed and sintered under high pressure - CO2 -neutral over the entire life cycle. The completely inorganic material is fireproof, resists heat as well as cold and is UV and colour resistant. The ultra-compact surface is also scratch and stain resistant, and even graffiti can be easily removed.
Convincing value
"The façade builders from the Wittenauer company took great care to ensure that the Dekton panels and edges were cut absolutely perfectly with the water jet cutter," says architect Rudolf Lais. "This was particularly challenging on the ceiling soffit on the ground floor, as elliptical cut-outs were required for the V-shaped supports. The result is absolutely convincing - valuable, easy to maintain, durable and completely recyclable at the end of the building's life cycle. For me, there is no better material for the Werthaus than Dekton."