METALLWERKHOF RUMMELSBURGERBUCHT
overview
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model 1:200
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stegreif

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Objective
The Metallwerkhof is designed on a site that lies on the embankment of the River Spree, the 'Rummelsburger Bucht' in Berlin.
The future users, which have successful inter-regional business relations, have the desire to combine their cultural as well as their social interests with their business aims. Their new building will give them a new corporate identity that will serve them in their guiding impulses. The firm, which is mainly active in the field of metal processing, often takes on difficult tasks which constitute a challenge for the planning, construction and production team. Moreover, the metal processing plant receives orders from the design and furniture industry. Besides the area of production, construction, and management, the design incorporates studios for young domestic and foreign art-scholars and an exhibition area. The location at the embankment offers the factory convenient traffic facilities and maritime connections that can be expanded in further expansions of the firm. 
An exhibition space allows the metal company to present their manifold designs and innovative techniques to the general public.

Concept and Context top
In its manifestation, the building appears as a constructed object of abstract composition by referring to the already existing industrial row buildings. Without rivaling with its architectural neighbors, it brings to the place the impressive statement of a distinct volumetric presence drawing into focus a particular and unique void in the industrial texture. The building refers to the exposed site near the embankment, the existing public warehouse, and an urban axis, which connects the 'Treptower Park' with the S-Bahn station Rummelsburger Bay. The urban axis is also used as public footpath.

Function and Activities top
The main design objective was to combine all functions under one roof and to promote co-operation between the different fields.
The heart of the building is the production hall that leads to the exhibition hall. Because of the dependence of the metal industry from new technologies and from foreign trade, a flexible hall with a crane bridge was incorporated in the design. Multi-story automatic production lines as well as the production of large prefabricated compounds are possible. Through the principle of multiple joined units, a subdivision in several production steps from heavy to light production, from the casting to the end
-product is possible. This principle also allows for the parcelling and subletting of small spaces.

This flexibility is economically as well as ecologically efficient. Numerous subfunctions, which include management, construction, planning, supervisor rooms, workshops,
artist studios, disposal sites, etc. are integrated in the hall and structure it as autonomous volumes.
The spaces between the volumes are functionally undefined and can be used as required. They not only function as a bridge between inside and outside but also as a bridge and a buffer between the production hall and the communication and recreational places. Through the structure of the ground plan an interlocking of the functions comes into being.

In the cross-sectional view the functional arrangement in layers becomes clear: accessibility and development outside the building, planning and construction offices, development inside (gallery), production hall, studios/ workshops and finally the working space outside.

The firm will take advantage of the 'exposed' site on the river embankment, and its vicinity, the already mentioned public warehouse and the pedestrian footpath. The pedestrian footpath, which comes from Treptower Park and leads to the other side of the bay to the 'S-Bahn Station Rummelsburger Bucht', will be redesigned to attain a maximum level of public attention.
The linear plan of the production hall finds its central point in the exhibition hall that faces the river embankment. This representative part of the firm offers a flexible site for events for both visitors as well as for the employees.

Structure and Material top
The three materials that are used in an efficient, economical as well as ecological manners are steel, concrete, and wood. 

The supporting structure is made out of steel. The integrated shielding volumes are made out of reinforced concrete, which provide sound as well as thermal insulation and storage mass. The building outer structure is made out of wooden louvered slats and glass which functions both as a multifunctional as well as a changeable building envelope: admitting light and shadow while keeping out wind and adverse weather conditions and yielding energy savings (heat and power) which is made possible through the use of integrated photovoltaic cells. 

Such an atypical wooden facade for a metal factory stands in contrast to the steel products and machines that are inside. This wooden facade is deliberately chosen to lay an emphasis on the displayed objects and to eradicate a warm and comfortable atmosphere for all employees and visitors. 
This functional classification of the materials strengthens the readability of the elements. The construction and details are neither rough nor smooth, but suitably to the disposition and rather simple and straightforward. Simple (standardized) steel selections are joined with steel angles and boards.

Climate and Energy top
The energy concept is characterized by passive and active factors. 
Winter (for outer temperatures of less than 18 degrees): The lamellaes are open or respectively moved to the side to let the sun unhindered through the glass, which in turn creates a 'greenhouse-effect'. The air is warmed up and the concrete mass stores the heat ('postponement'). Additionally, the excess heat of the machines is used to warm up the cold fresh air ('rotational heat exchanger'). Consequently, there is no heating system required.
Summer (for outer temperatures of 18¡ or more): The efficient lamellaes shelter the building from the overheating that can be caused by light hitting from the south and only allows in the light that comes from the north (diffused zenith light). The concrete elements now function as cold-storage mass. The rainwater that is collected in cisterns can be used for cooling the building. The exhibition area that is situated on the river embankment is naturally cooled by the evaporating water from the River Spree and respectively by the spraying water from the sculptures.
The active system is composed of photovoltaic elements that are integrated in the louvers on the south-south-east facade and on the roof. 

Architecture Competition top
This design won the first prize in an idea competition organized by 'SCHÜCO international KG' under the auspices of the "Ministry for Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety". 

T
he Jury: "The clear minimalist contour of the metal workshop convinces through its elemental calmness in the landscape of the 'Rummelsburger' Bay. The principle of serial joints leads to a fine structural openness of the factory hall and the working sectors. The strict materialization is pleasant. The project represents a very good contribution of the penetration of architectural design combined with a complex technical (energy) concept. 
  The integration of photovoltaic - elements as lamella on the southeast facade and on the roof is a very good varied applicable concept. Some specific advantages come about through the incorporation of the photovoltaic cells on the facade as a multifunctional building envelope that offer among other things: shadowing, weather protection and energy savings with photovoltaic-cooling by means of back ventilation. The energy savings can be used for example in lighting, ventilation, and other internal uses. Only the bottom part of the adjustable elements are equipped with solar cells in order to avoid shadowing that can be caused by the tilting of the lamellas. A single-axis automatic operation of the PV-cells comes about through the adjustment of the lamella, which is matched to the position of the sun (year-round). Energy savings and a yearlong energy balance are the added positive effects that are reached." 

Film/Advertisement Competition top
"Fake: Order today -- Get it tomorrow." The Metallwerkhof design was used in an advertisment for the topdeq corporation.