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| Notable Features | |
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Prefabricated concrete elements |
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Flexible building system |
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| Basic Information | |
| Location : | |
| Kassel, Germany | |
| Building Type : | |
| Office and residential | |
| Architect : | |
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Alexander Reichel |
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| "Mitarbeiter" : | |
| Johanna Reichel - Vossen, Stefan Seibert, Caroline Ossenberg-Engels, Elke Radloff | |
| Tragwerksplaner : | |
| Hobein, Kleinhans, Marx, Hochtief AG | |
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| The Building System | |
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| To allow for maximum flexibility, the idea was to develop a 3D load-bearing structure that could be extended in all directions and would provide functionally neutral spaces. The openings between the structural elements could be filled with various wall panels, depending on the usage required. The building was divided into 3 different systems: | |
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The load-bearing structure: reinforced concrete skeleton frame, filigree floors, filigree walls. |
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Timber framed elements: closed elements, elements with large window strips, elements with small window strips, room-height glazing. |
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Cladding elements: cladding to columns, beams and wall panels. |
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| Construction process: | |
| After completion of the basic structure, timber framed elements were installed within a period of 14 days. The elements were supplied ready clad on all faces with cement-bonded chipboard. The external insulation to the load-bearing columns and beams was added after the infill panels had been fixed in position. | |
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| Overview |
| The project brief required a maximum flexibility in the use and layout and possible adaptation to various site conditions (accommodation to 9 different sites). The dimensions of this building were 13.52 x 12.30 x 15.40 m high. |
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| Prefabricated Elements |
| A maximum number of elements were prefabricated and delivered to site ready for assembly. The additional time and effort invested in the detailing would be balanced out by a quicker and simpler assembly process on site. |
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| Glass-fibre-reinforced concrete was used for the precast concrete cladding to avoid corrosion of the reinforcement and allowed the use of elements with slender dimensions, lower weight and smooth, even surface and sharp arises. Also the thickness was only 3 cm. It also enabled the thickness of the wall elements to be reduced and therefore the volume of materials delivered to site and structural loading were minimized, allowing economic advantages. Glass-fibre-reinforced concrete consisted of fine-grained cement concrete (aggregates < 4 mm) in which alkali-resistant glass fibres (roughly 2-4 mm long) were mixed. The fibres provided reinforcement against tensile stresses and cracking. |
| The elements used in this project were generally 3.0 x 1.7 m and 3 cm thick. The clips consisted of 2 U-shaped interlocking stainless-steel components allowing the construction to be adjusted horizontally and vertically. The cladding elements were fixed to the U-sections by means of inbuilt hooks. All precast elements were subjected to hydrophobic treatment for water-repellent. |
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| Sources |
| Detail, Serie 2001, No.4, Modular systems, p674-679 and p700 |
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