Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility. Transparently reliable. Pioneering urban project. FRAME + 75 DI the door to success

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1 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility Transparently reliable Pioneering urban project FRAME + 75 DI the door to success 1 OBJEKTIV

2 CONTENTS NEWS WHAT S NEW FOCUS PROJECT IN DETAIL PROJECT IN DEMAND OUTLOOK THE DESK New CAD Potential FRAME + 75 DI Efficiency Accommodation Community Facades are Protected OF Center for building The door to house Plus and office space, center in now the key office build- Thomas Changes in Sales Management Architects renovation success with Electromobility, Berlin Augsburg Hohenhorst, Hamburg element ing, Karlsruhe Winterstetter Partner Award for RAICO EDITORIAL Dear readers, At RAICO, things are changing both in standing employee Manfred Lebedew freedom of action in the future. To simplify Imprint OBJEKTIV is the architecture magazine of RAICO Bautechnik GmbH. Rainer Vögele our sales and marketing operations and in terms of our products. For example, there is a new face at the head of our sales operations: Dr. Stefan Lackner, Head of Marketing und Product Management, is assuming overall sales responsibility and will therefore be in control of three areas that are crucially important for our future growth. In the future, both export and German sales will also be placed under joint management. Wolfgang Elfner received two gold distinctions for best consultant. RAICO also won gold and silver in the categories Windows and Curtain Walls and Doors, Gates, Locking Systems, Fittings. At fensterbau/frontale, we were also rewarded with the Innovation Prize for Architecture + Windows Doors Curtain Walls. The jury reserved special praise for the high level of thermal insulation and the great freedom of design scope allowed to architects in a truly satisfying recognition your planning operations with RAICO products, you can download all the crosssections from our new Internet CAD Center quickly and easily. You will find more information on this innovation in the current edition of OBJEKTIV. I hope you find this edition an inspiring read. Issued by: RAICO Bautechnik GmbH, Gewerbegebiet Nord 2, Pfaffenhausen, Phone , Fax , info@raico.de, Edited and published by: mk publishing GmbH, Döllgaststraße 7 9, Augsburg, Phone , Fax , info@mkpublishing.de, will take over responsibility for this area and can now contribute his many years of experience to operations in our main market. Your confidence in our sales team was recently confirmed once again by the customer ratings given as part of the Architects Partner Award. Our long- of our successful entry into the door sector. And we have other innovations to present to you. We have developed additional design variants for our FRAME + 75 DI series of doors with oblique and rounded edges in order to give our fabricators, primarily for the house door sector, even greater Rainer Vögele, Executive Director RAICO Bautechnik GmbH Photo credits: Alexander Rieck, Andrea Nuding, Anton Ambros GmbH, Carsten Dohse Architekten, Hans Timm Fensterbau GmbH & Co. KG, Matthias Koslik, mk publishing, RAICO, Stefan Jurgeleit, Ulrich Schwarz/ BMVBS, Wachtendorf GmbH & Co. KG, Werner Sobek 2 OBJEKTIV

3 NEW CAD CENTER Thanks to RAICO's new CAD Center, planners and architects can now download the cross-sections of all RAICO products in.dwg or.dxf format and use them for their own planning activities. The CAD Center is available from the RAICO homepage and the download area can be accessed using personal login details. The program has been designed to be simple and intuitive to use. GOLD AND SILVER AT THE ARCHITECTS PARTNER AWARD RAICO proudly carried off four prizes at the Architects Partner Award (APA) organized by the architecture trade journals AIT and xia intelligente architektur. The company won three golds and one silver when the awards were announced in mid March at the AIT architecture exhibition in Cologne, including gold in the category Windows and Curtain Walls (for facades) and silver in the category Doors, Gates, Locking Systems and Fittings. Manfred Lebedew, a long-standing RAICO project consultant, was awarded gold in the categories Consultant for Windows and Curtain Walls (for facades) and Best All Category Consultant. Manfred Lebedew: I am honored that my services have been acknowledged in this way at industry level. The company's two management partners, Rainer Vögele and Albert Inninger, were both highly delighted at the firm's success: The outstanding results achieved at this year's Architects Partner Award are due to the hard work put in by all our employees in recent years. To make the awards, the APA's organizers had asked 1,522 German architects and interior designers to spontaneously name the architectural consultants and brands that they appreciated the most. CHANGES IN SALES MANAGEMENT Our focus is to further increase the satisfaction of our existing customers and convince new customers of our outstanding product and service quality. This was the stated aim of Dr. Stefan Lackner and Wolfgang Elfner when they assumed their new sales and marketing positions in early May. Alongside marketing and product management, Dr. Stefan Lackner is now also responsible for all the company's sales activities. He succeeds Gerhard Unseld who has decided to leave the company. We are convinced that Dr. Lackner will further extend our global marketing activities, explained the two managing partners Albert Inninger and Rainer Vögele. With a degree in business administration and economics, the 43-year-old has been working in the company for three years and had already acquired extensive sales management experience before joining RAICO. Wolfgang Elfner has also taken on a range of new tasks. In addition to his existing role as Export Sales Manager, he is now also Head of Sales for Germany. A qualified engineer who also holds an MBA, he has been with the company for two years and possesses outstanding knowledge of the international sales environment. NEWS Dr. Stefan Lackner (left) and Wolfgang Elfner (right). Manfred Lebedew, project consultant at RAICO Bautechnik, with the APA awards.

4 WHAT S NEW Architects and planners can see energy deficiencies at a glance and are well aware: Optimized thermal insulation is the basis for successful renovation. POTENTIAL FOR BUILDING RENOVATION PROFITABLE RENOVATION WORK According to the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS), the country has 18 million residential and 1.7 million non-residential buildings. Most of these are inefficient in terms of energy utilization and are still unrenovated. The national government has responded to this situation: including through this year's KfW program dedicated to energy-oriented urban renovation and assistance worth approximately 70 million Euros thus creating an opportunity for architects and planners. The need for building renovation in Germany is vast: Approximately 75 percent of the building stock was constructed before 1979 and most of it before the Thermal Insulation Regulations of 11th August Calculations performed by the Alliance for Building Energy Efficiency (geea) showed that approximately 70 percent of these older buildings have no insulation whatsoever and 20 percent have inadequate insulation. What do these figures mean for planners and architects? Among other things, they reveal just how urgently in need of renovation many older public and private buildings are and clearly indicate the potential that resides in nationwide building renovation. And according to the experts, it is not just in the 1.7 million non-residential buildings that energy-efficient renovation is developing into a lucrative market sector. Utility buildings, in particular, with their extensive facades and broad footprints offer the potential for large-scale, profitable renovation work. When it comes to optimized renovation, the energy efficiency of the building shell is crucial: And in this field, RAICO can offer a versatile, precision-manufactured, high-performance, range of well-insulated curtain wall systems together with the matching insulating doors and windows. What is more, a report issued by the Ministry makes it clear just how economically attractive energy renovation can be. According to this report, professionally implemented renovation and modern building technology can, in some cases, reduce energy requirements by up to 80 percent. Nationwide subsidies The government has launched a large number of energy renovation projects. Consequently, there are KfW programs designed not only to support private home owners through the provision of loans but also, in the name of energy-oriented urban renovation, to promote measures for the renovation of communal and public buildings. In this way, the government wants to put an end to unnecessary energy consumption and meet the EU's climate protection goals by Germany's public and private building stock is still responsible for almost 30 percent of the country's total CO 2 emissions. Between 2006 and the end of 2011, subsidies were granted for the renovation, construction or modification of approximately 2.7 million dwellings and 1,100 communal facilities. The 2012 energy-oriented urban renovation program is equipped with a budget of approximately 70 million Euros and is therefore of great interest to planners and architects who want to specialize in large-scale renovation projects. 4 OBJEKTIV

5 FRAME + 75 DI DOOR SERIES AWARD AND NEW DESIGN VARIANTS THE DOOR TO SUCCESS A high level of thermal insulation combined with a very attractive appearance was the way one jury member judging the Innovation Prize for Architecture + Window Door Curtain Wall at fensterbau/frontale 2012 described the RAICO FRAME + 75 DI aluminum door system. With two new profile variants, RAICO is also extending the range of design possibilities. FOCUS Modern Style with rounded contours. With a U f value of 1.3 W/(m 2 K), the credentials of RAICO's FRAME + 75 DI aluminum door system were never in doubt. Which is why the product's excellent thermal insulating properties were explicitly mentioned at the award ceremony for the Innovation Prize for Architecture + Windows Doors Curtain Walls. This was the fourth time that the architecture trade journals AIT and xia Intelligente Architektur had awarded this prize at the fensterbau/frontale trade fair. A prestigious jury consisting of six renowned architects assessed a total of 37 submitted innovations for their functional and design quality, the intelligence of the technical solution and the range of possible applications. In their evaluation of the FRAME + system, the jury also praised the intelligent, well-conceived design, the ease Award of handling during construction, the great design scope offered to architects thanks to the system's narrow sight lines, large dimensions and extensive range of possible combinations. Or, in other words, the FRAME + 75 DI is a state-of-the-art door system. Before starting our development work, we cooperated closely with architects, planners and key users in order to respond as appropriately as possible to the requirements these target groups place on door systems, explains Rainer Vögele, Executive Director of RAICO Bautechnik. That is why we are so delighted to have received this award. New variants for individual design capabilities To respond to the needs of the house door market, RAICO can now supply two new variants of the door system. Alongside the earlier Basic Style variant, users can now choose between the Modern Style version with its rounded contours and the oblique lines of the Classic Style. With these three design variants, RAICO has opened up an extensive range of individualized design possibilities stretching from clear, straight lines through to gentle, flowing forms. The new variants also adhere to the proven 3D design concept that focuses on sealing, insulation and dimensions. Alongside its efficient thermal insulation, the system is also characterized by an innovative structural concept with an internal leaf overhang of 12 millimetres and high panel thicknesses. Thanks to its innovative door sill concept, the system also offers outstanding sealing properties. Classic Style with oblique contours. Basic Style with square contours. OBJEKTIV

6 PROJECT EFFICIENCY HOUSE PLUS WITH ELECTROMOBILITY, BERLIN The Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility in Berlin is a modern, compact residential house that produces more energy than it and the electric vehicles belonging to the building require. This is possible in part thanks to the building's fully glazed facade with its outstanding thermal insulation constructed using RAICO's THERM + aluminum curtain wall system. This minimizes energy requirements while simultaneously giving the building its very special appearance. The glazed areas covering the curtain wall produce electricity which the occupants can use to charge their electric vehicles and bicycles. An innovative new building was recently unveiled in the Fasanenstraße in Berlin's Charlottenburg district: the Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility. The project is the result of a design competition launched by the German Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development and was planned and constructed by Professor Werner Sobek in collaboration with the Stuttgart Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) and WSGreenTechnologies GmbH. The aim of the competition was to create a residential house that sets new living and construction standards for the future in terms of both architectural and energy use. The result is the Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility which generates approximately 16,000 kilowatt hours during the course of a year and supplies this to the occupants for the operation of the building and all its electrical equipment, including the charging of electrical cars and bicycles. Excess energy is stored locally and can be fed back into the public electricity network if desired. The Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility shows that it is already possible to make use of a fully renewable power supply for everyday use, explains Werner Sobek. The building combines energy-efficient living with electromobility and, as a viable, adaptable architectural concept, it makes an innovative contribution to the way we will live and build in the future. A power-generating curtain wall The Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility is a compact, two-storey house that is glazed on all sides with a living area of 136 square meters and a large covered area facing the street to accommodate the 6 OBJEKTIV

7 FORWARD-LOOKING PILOT PROJECT OBJEKTIV

8 electric vehicles. The ground floor comprises an open living and dining area which looks onto the green space at the back while the first floor contains further living areas and the bedrooms. Alongside its contemporary architecture, the Efficiency House is versatile in utilization and can be adapted to the changing requirements of the occupants without the need for any major structural work. The house was constructed from wooden panels in the form of prefabricated coreinsulated elements; the energy is produced by means of an air/water heat pump as well as by a photovoltaic system on the roof. Electricity is also generated by the southern side of the house which is fully glazed like the other facades. While amorphous thin-film modules are used here, the glass on the western and eastern side is equipped with an invisible metallic coating. In the same way as the curtain wall on the northern side, which is clad with printed colored glass and possesses outstanding thermal insulation, this minimizes heat loss. All the glass curtain walls are equipped with triple insulating glass in which the spaces between the glass panes are filled with the noble gas argon. This gas provides better insulation than air and therefore improves the thermal insulation of the Efficiency House even further. Optimum insulating properties, perfect visual appearance The entire facade of the house, which amounts to approximately 170 square meters, was erected using RAICO's THERM + aluminum curtain wall system. Planning and construction were performed by the Berlinbased company Hans Timm Fensterbau GmbH & Co. KG. Working in cooperation with RAICO, we had to ensure that the exacting energy and design requirements placed on this structure were satisfied during a very tightly scheduled planning phase. This was only possible by collaborating intensively with RAICO as a system partner, explains Managing Director Detlef Timm. To do this, it was necessary to develop energyoptimized glass carrier constructions for heavy glass weights while simultaneously achieving a targeted U CW value for the overall construction of approximately 0.7 W/(m²K) through the use of triple glazing with a U g value of 0.5 W/(m²K). Another reason for choosing the RAICO system used here lay in the fact that the efficient production methods it permits mean that a considerable amount of prefabrication can be performed in the workshop and the products can be assembled easily and reliably on-site considerations that are also of economic significance because optimally dimensioned mullions and transoms with the same system depth can be used. The structure's perfect visual appearance is due to the innovative T-shaped connectors used for the THERM + mullion-and-transom curtain wall which guarantee a uniform, intricate appearance across the entire depth of the facade even when flush transoms are used. Thanks to the choice of insulating blocks and seals, all the components benefit from highly efficient, integrated thermal insulation and sealing properties. RAICO's THERM + aluminum curtain wall system was therefore a reliable, economic construction solution that was optimally suited for the current project. In this way, the structure was completed after a construction period of only four months and was officially opened in December It demonstrates that thanks to the use of innovative techniques and materials, it is already possible to construct outstanding buildings which, like the Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility, are showing us what the future might look like. In the living and sleeping areas at the back, the THERM + aluminum curtain wall system ensures transparency and energy efficiency combined with a 8 contemporary design. OBJEKTIV

9 Client: Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development Construction period: August 2011 to November 2011 Architecture and substructure planning/building physics: Werner Sobek, Stuttgart Planning and construction of glass structures: Hans Timm Fensterbau GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin Building format: Compact, two-storey square construction with all-round glazing Construction: Wood panel construction using prefabricated, core-insulated elements RAICO products used: THERM + aluminum curtain wall system Volume: 645 m³ Glazed areas: 170 m² The competition launched among architects and universities to design the Efficiency House Plus with Electromobility was won by Stuttgart University in collaboration with the design office of Professor Werner Sobek. He convinced the jury with his contemporary architectural concept in which energy-efficient living and electromobility are perfectly combined in the service of the building, the occupants and their vehicles. Werner Sobek's design office, which was founded in 1992 and employs more than 200 people, handles all types of constructions and materials. It focuses in particular on high-rise construction, curtain wall planning, special constructions and on the design of sustainable buildings. OBJEKTIV

10 IN DETAIL ACCOMMODATION AND OFFICE SPACE IN AUGSBURG TRANSPARENTLY RELIABLE Alongside the proven range of aluminum windows and doors, RAICO's FRAME + series also includes the FRAME + parallel slide and tilt door. This not only meets the most exacting demands in terms of energy efficiency, safety and ease of handling but also boasts a space-saving design characterized by a high level of openness and transparency as in the glass cube on the roof of a residential and office building in Augsburg. Thanks to its modular design, innovative system components and variable thermal insulation, RAICO's FRAME + window system is setting new standards in modern architecture. The FRAME + aluminum windows can be used as insert windows for glass facades, as punched windows as well as block windows or window facades. Alongside these windows, the range also includes inward or outward-opening FRAME + aluminum doors and the FRAME + parallel slide and tilt door. Like all the items in the FRAME + series, this also gives architects great design freedom thanks to the wide range of variants that can be achieved based on the modular system concept. The FRAME + parallel slide and tilt door is also impressive in terms of energy efficiency. This is because the innovative hollow chamber/web technology, based on the use of the special material THERMORIT, ensures optimum insulating properties with U f values that can vary between 1.9 and 1.3 W/(m²K). At the same time, like all other FRAME + components, the door permits efficient handling coupled with outstanding process reliability and offers guaranteed protection in terms of airtightness, wind resistance and watertightness. The FRAME + parallel slide and tilt door also meets demanding requirements with regard to openness and transparency. And it was these properties that came to the fore during the construction of a new, three-storey residential and office building in Augsburg. A glass cube on the roof This was because the roof of the building, which houses two commercial spaces and a top-floor apartment, was to be adorned with a glass cube designed to serve as a winter garden offering a particularly airy, light-flooded atmosphere high above the city streets. At the same time, the cube, which measures approximately 6 meters in length, 4 meters in width and 2.75 meters in height, had to be protected against the prevailing weather conditions. The solution took the form of a construction using the THERM + A-I aluminum mullion and transom curtain wall system equipped with FRAME + aluminum windows together with two FRAME + parallel slide and tilt doors. Flawless visual appearance across the entire depth of the facade The THERM + A-I aluminum curtain wall with its FRAME + aluminum windows provides a flawless visual appearance even when flush mullions are used due to their optimized interconnection across the entire depth of the facade, explains architect Paulus Eckerle who was responsible for planning the privately owned construction. Because their leaves can be fully opened, the FRAME + parallel slide and tilt doors used in the construction ensured that the desired transparency was achieved. Together with their outstanding heat insulating capabilities and impressive sealing properties, they therefore represented the ideal solution to all the visual and structural demands of the project. To open the doors fully, they can be slid back completely parallel to the plane in which they are fitted, thus minimizing space requirements. In addition, the windows can also be tilted, for example when extended ventilation is required. As a result, the FRAME + parallel slide and tilt doors are ideal not only for use in terrace and balcony areas but also for special applications as in the current construction. A development in a historical context Below the roof terrace, the Western side of the apartment was also converted into a floor-to-ceiling glazed facade using the THERM + A-I curtain wall system and FRAME + aluminum windows. The same technique was 10 OBJEKTIV

11 The FRAME + parallel slide and tilt doors in the roofmounted glass cube ensure an unrestricted, open feel and provide the intended light-flooded atmosphere. used for the glazed stairwell on the side of the building which establishes a visual and spatial bridge to the protected former machine shop that is directly next to it. The design of the new building's facade with its 30 French windows and 19 ordinary windows from the FRAME + aluminum series also echoes the architectural context of the environment. This is because the differing depths of the window intrados, combined with their intricate visual appearance, has given the facade a sculptural quality which, together with the new glass cube, creates an animated interaction of effects which also embraces the adjacent listed brick building. FRAME + parallel slide and tilt door (PST) Maximum energy savings thanks to variable thermal insulation U f values of up to 1.3 W/(m 2 K) Safety levels in compliance with standards through tested quality Efficient handling, modular system technology Simple, space-saving opening/closing system Compatible with all THERM + systems RAICO PST door system OBJEKTIV

12 PROJECT COMMUNITY CENTER IN HOHENHORST, HAMBURG PIONEERING URBAN PROJECT The new lakeside community center building in Hamburg's Hohenhorst district provides residents with a wide range of social and cultural activities. It is also one of the few non-residential buildings in Hamburg to fulfill the Passive House standard. This is due to RAICO's THERM + H-I wooden curtain wall system which not only provides excellent thermal insulation but also forms the perfect basis for the building's characteristic wooden facade. The lakeside building welcomes its visitors to a very comfortable indoor temperature. The windows are tripleglazed and the wooden facade meets the Passive House standard. The lakeside building constructed in the Hohenhorst district in the North-East of Hamburg acts as a community center which provides family-oriented advice, educational and support services. At the same time, it caters for leisure and cultural activities and also possesses a catering outlet. The property is owned and run by the Johann Daniel Lawaetz Foundation, while the building was designed and constructed by the Hamburg-based firm of architects Carsten Dohse Architekten which won the competition that preceded the project. The challenge was to design a building that could be integrated well in the park, is easy to find and will be able to fulfill the many different roles that will be asked of it, explains Stefan Jurgeleit, Project Manager at Carsten Dohse Architekten. At the same time, the Hohenhorst community center also meets the most exacting ecological requirements and is one of the few non-residential buildings in Hamburg to have been built in compliance with the Passive House standard. Passive House standard thanks to THERM + H-I wooden curtain wall system The result is a rectangular building situated at the water's edge with a staggered, L-shaped top floor which looks out proudly over the Berliner Platz and is perfectly integrated in the existing park landscape. One particularly striking aspect of the community center is the building's facade where the varying profiles visible in the willfully chaotic arrangement of horizontally fixed larchwood boards forms a lively entity that reflects the variety of the building's visitors and users. The building's energy concept focuses on reducing energy consumption by means of a high-insulation building shell coupled with efficient construction methods. The simple, compact basic form permitted the economically efficient construction of the building. The ground floor is made from solid materials and supports the steel-reinforced concrete ceiling slab. As a result, the ground floor plays an important role in storing heat for the building. The fact that the top floor walls make use of a timber frame construction with wood and cellulose insulation meant that the building work could advance quickly. The power supply takes the form of a district heating solution. The thermally optimized design of the curtain wall with its many glazed areas also made a crucial contribution to achieving the Passive House standard. To meet the demanding requirements relating to energy efficiency as well as the safety requirements of the Technical Rules for the Use of Safety Glass (TRAV) and permit efficient handling, we decided to use RAICO's 12 OBJEKTIV

13 Architect Stefan Jurgeleit, former Project Manager at the Hamburg-based company Carsten Dohse Architekten, created a simultaneously striking and functional new meeting place with this lakeside building. The building complies with the Passive House standard thanks to its well-insulated curtain wall. THERM + H-I wooden curtain wall system, explains architect Stefan Jurgeleit. This minimizes the building s overall energy requirements and provides a comfortable level of warmth for users. Sophisticated, easy-to-use system The entire area of the facade, which covers approximately 50 square meters, has a particularly low U f value of 0.7 W/(m 2 K) and therefore makes an important contribution to compliance with the Passive House standard in combination with the triple-glazed areas which have WK2-P2A rating. At the same time, the internal and external panes are made of laminated safety glass. The RAICO THERM + wooden mullion and transom system, which has a width of 56 millimeters, was installed by the Varel-based company Wachtendorf GmbH & Co. KG. RAICO's THERM + wooden mullion and transom system technology is a proven, well-designed and easy-to-use system which constitutes an ideal solution for facades and glass roofs due to the reliable dissipation of torsional forces and wind loads, explains Dirk Wachtendorf of Wachtendorf GmbH & Co. KG. At the same time, the system, which has received full approval from the building authorities, permits the secure fixing of all components and allows the simple, rapid assembly of the entire curtain wall. In this way, the Hohenhorst community center was completed after a construction period of barely a year and was handed over to its users in December With its striking architecture, many different possible uses and its compliance with the Passive House standard, this lakeside building now acts as a very special new meeting place in the Hohenhorst district and will point the way forward for many new urban projects. Client: Lawaetz-Stiftung, Hamburg Architects: Carsten Dohse Architekten, Hamburg Facade construction: Wachtendorf GmbH & Co. KG, Varel RAICO products used: THERM + H-I wooden curtain wall system Glazed areas: Approx. 50 m 2 Construction period: December 2010 to December 2011 OBJEKTIV

14 IN DEMAND FACADES ARE NOW THE KEY ELEMENT New architectural concepts coupled with innovative technologies and materials and new, specific demands will determine the future of building. OBJEKTIV spoke to Alexander Rieck of the Stuttgart Fraunhofer Institute about future developments and possibilities in the field of building and architecture. Dr. Alexander Rieck studied architecture in Stuttgart and Arizona. Since 1996, he has acted in a scientific role for the Fraunhofer Society where he has been head of Corporate Projects since In 2007, he founded the LAVA firm of architects which has offices in Stuttgart, Berlin, Sydney and Dubai. What concepts will gain in importance during the planning and design of buildings in the future? In the future, we will see an increasing demand for holistic building concepts based on an overall approach which can fulfill both the tasks required of the structure itself and the varying demands of their different users. Growing importance will be attached to aspects such as ecology and sustainability, as well as energy provision, individual design possibilities and versatility of use from variable room layouts through to the provision of power via electricityproducing facades which also supply power for charging electric vehicles. The buildings that emerge from this approach must harmonize with the existing urban architecture and must be sensitively integrated in the established environment of the district or street where they are erected. Only in this way, and in combination with innovative building technologies and materials, can we create an architecture of a quality that will permanently benefit both cities and their inhabitants. What role do new materials and technologies have to play here? In recent times, great progress has been made in the development of so-called composite materials. These combine the advantages of conventional materials with the properties of, for instance, plastic in order to permit the production of new components with particularly impressive insulating properties, for example. At the same time, the use of ecological, natural materials in the form of bio-composites which meet increasingly exacting demands in terms of ecology and sustainability is also growing in importance. Generally speaking, whether you are talking about existing or new building materials, it is worthwhile investing in high-quality materials and products not only for economic reasons but also in order to promote sustainability. Investors, property owners and the subsequent users are increasingly prepared to accept the higher costs involved. Thanks to the use of new insulating materials, such as nanofoams or nanogels, it is now possible to achieve excellent insulating performance even with low material thicknesses. Another exciting prospect lies in the development of new nanosurfaces which, for example, permit air purification or are more resistant to dirt and damage. It is also possible to conceive of curtain walls that change color. What part of the house is going to be particularly important in the future? In the future, the facade will be the key element of the house because it can assume far more functions than is currently the case and will therefore make a significant contribution to the quality of the building. Its thermal insulation properties determine the building's energy efficiency while the recovery of solar energy, for example by using integrated photovoltaic elements or heat-storing glass, will make an important contribution to the production of clean, environmentally responsible energy which will also make users more independent of the power supply utilities. At the same time, as the main element that makes an immediate impact on visitors, facades are growing in importance in visual and architectural terms. The facade is the interface between the private house and the public space of the city. This applies equally to its various functions and to its architectural design. Because architecture always mirrors our society, we should be excited about the society of the future and its new forms of architectural expression. 14 OBJEKTIV

15 REPLACING A FACADE UNDER ARCHITECTURAL PROTECTION OUTLOOK The renovation of the facade of an office block which benefits from a historic preservation order in Karlsruhe city center is being conducted under very special conditions. Because the building operations performed across the area of approximately 1,350 square meters are taking place without interruption to normal office work. All the elements of the facade that are removed during the day are already replaced by new elements by the time evening comes. This method of working makes great demands of the construction company, Freyler Industriebau GmbH, at the levels of preliminary planning, prefabrication and logistics. The task is being performed using profiles from the THERM + aluminum curtain wall system together with special profiles from the FRAME + product range. These make it possible to closely mirror the protected geometry of the previously employed profiles. The curtain wall elements are being assembled from the top of the building to the bottom to make it possible to dismantle the scaffolding as the building work progresses and speed the return to normal office life. You will be able to find more information in future editions of OBJEKTIV. OBJEKTIV

16 THE DESK OF THOMAS WINTERSTETTER For us, teamwork and the exchange of ideas and information are everything, says Dr. Thomas Winterstetter. And my desk mirrors this philosophy. The white desktop is always home to a wide range of documents relating to the many international projects handled by the Werner Sobek design and consulting agency. The company, which is represented worldwide and has more than 200 employees, focuses on curtain wall planning as well as on high-rise developments, sustainable construction and substructure planning. Dr. Thomas Winterstetter, who is Managing Director of the Stuttgart office and Head of curtain wall activities, performs much of his work at his PC. I m a fan of the fast, effective exchange of ideas. Sketches are often very useful when discussing concepts. During discussions, it is very important to achieve agreement between designers, engineers and architects in order to meet the exacting demands that characterize curtain wall planning, for example at the Flame Towers in Baku or the Fraunhofer Institute in Würzburg. RAICO products were used in the curved glazed elements in the curtain wall erected for the research institute. Experience has taught us that for many planning activities, only very specific solutions are possible, explains Thomas Winterstetter. With its portfolio, RAICO covers many different applications and can offer us the right products and necessary technical support even for complex construction projects.