Recognition | New Construction of the Training Academy Chamber of Crafts Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
In collaboration with Atelier30
Urban planning idea
The new training academy gives the Karlsruhe Chamber of Crafts the opportunity to present itself in the context of constant economic, technological and social change with a new, contemporary and modern learning and working environment.
In accordance with planning and building regulations, the new building will be positioned along Johann-Georg-Schlosser-Straße. By staggering the structure, the building volume is structured and functionally organised.
The main entrance to the building is located in the centrally positioned, striking three-storey section of the academy, giving the educational academy an easily recognisable appearance that is appropriate to the location.
An entrance square is located in front of the main entrance, providing a short link between the car park at the side and the main entrance.
Inner courtyards
The workshops are arranged around central courtyards. This creates a varied circulation area with interesting views when moving through the workshop areas. In addition, widened areas in front of the courtyards and the courtyards themselves offer space for communication and relaxation.
Open space
The Bildungsakademie in Karlsruhe is reached via a spacious forecourt. Past small green islands and numerous trees, the entrance is clearly recognisable. A combination of greenery and seating areas creates an attractive place to meet and offers the opportunity to spend time in the urban centre under shady trees.
The collective relocation of the car parks to the western part of the site creates a calmer area in front of the academy for pedestrians and cyclists. This is reinforced by bicycle parking spaces in front of the entrance.
Deliveries are made via the southern open space. Together with the entrance to the petrol station, deliveries can take place separately from the rest of the Academy’s use. A strip of vegetation in combination with a fence restricts accessibility and creates a clear spatial separation. To further enhance this area, however, numerous trees will be planted. Small niches with seating areas are created under this tree canopy in combination with extensions of the green belt.
A central point in the outdoor area planning is the increasingly important rainwater management in order to ensure that the educational academy remains a modern location for many years to come. Generous retention and infiltration areas were therefore planned.
To the south of the new building, the retention area is located in a combination of several troughs. This allows excess rainwater from the site and neighbouring areas to be collected, evaporated and seeped away.
A green belt around the car park deck also allows some of the rainwater in the western part of the site to be absorbed. The remaining water is channelled into the long infiltration area to the south.
The three inner courtyards with green and seating elements also support the handling of precipitation through direct infiltration areas.
Roof and façade design
The roofs of the single-storey building areas and the storey ceilings of the central building are planned as timber-concrete composite ceilings on a construction grid of 5x5m. If required, the construction grid can be extended to 7.5×7.5m or 10x10m and the construction supported by beams.
The façade elements and interior walls are planned in timber frame construction.
The materiality of the façade continues the timber construction method. The façade surfaces are clad with timber panelling. Greenery is proposed for parts of the façade.
Biodiversity and rainwater management
In addition to the functional requirements of the educational academy, the open spaces also fulfil fundamental functions of resilient and sustainable area development. Rainwater management, water-permeable surface paving,
vegetation areas rich in structure, biodiversity and cohabitation take centre stage here.
centre stage. The building roofs will be intensively greened with regional seeds. The 30 cm thick substrate layer retains rainwater almost completely through storage and evaporation. Excess rainwater from the roofs is collected in cisterns and made available as service water for the building services and the green areas.
The outdoor areas are provided with a comprehensive rainwater management system. For this purpose, the rainwater is channelled into the planting or shrub areas so that it can be collected there and seep away locally. Excess rainwater during heavy rainfall events is channelled into retention areas.
The open green spaces, with a large proportion of species-rich flowering zones, with heat-tolerant extensive shrubs and grasses, serve as food and habitat for bees and insects. Free-growing hedges of native trees and shrubs are planned along the edges; they form the boundary of the space, reduce noise and provide protection. Interspersed fruit trees increase the biodiversity of the open space. A green space for people, animals and plants.
