Mention

Author:
Titus Bernhard, Dipl. Ing.
Rainer Schmidt

Collaborators:
Mattias Svensson, Christian Hofer, Katharina Scharf, Lukas Bihler, Lin Tu

Technical planning:
Traffic planning SRP Schneider & Partner Ingenieur-Consult GmbH: Robert Männling

Assistants:
Artist/ Construction art: Felix Weinold
Architectural modeller: Beta Berec
Architectural images: Linus Meier

DECISION OF THE PRIZE JURY:

 

The authors of this design propose a floating ribbon that forms a transparent cover and an urban setting for the entire competition area. Tracing the topography, the ribbon surrounds an internal green oasis, connecting to an enclosed landscape area. The purpose of this physical divide is to distinguish between different natural spaces with playful and sporting activities.

The existing building within the idea section is incorporated into the structure in the form of a shopping court and bicycle hire point. The floating ribbon is to be formed from a timber structure with an inner energy field and two accompanying green strips.

The arrangement of the lorry charging station with its separate entry point seems to be well resolved. The snaking ribbon in the east of the installation forms its backbone and a cover for the car parking spaces. The circular service block floats above this.

Many individual aspects of the work are coherent and the elaboration of the open spaces is a valuable contribution. However, the covered perimeter appears overambitious and not appropriate. The architectural concept of movement and circular enclosure was not wholly convincing for the jury.

 

Explanation of the design

Explanatory text

URBAN CONCEPT

With a floating, ribbon-like roof, the Coburg charging station forms an urban setting and landscape zoning of the competition area. Following the topography, the transparent roofing forms an internal green-blue oasis that is surrounded by a park-like landscape. With regard to the different target groups of the charging station, this spatial structure enables a differentiated offer between an intensive natural experience and opportunities for playful and sporting activities. The radial arrangement of the EV charging points on the eastern flank of the strip sets it in motion and integrates the service block into the contours of the roof as an elevated ring-shaped building. Floating above the landscape, the KAESER charging station’s architectural expression of efficiency and emotion becomes a visible sign and expression of the company’s own identity.

TRAFFIC ACCESS AND ORGANISATION

The charging station is accessed from the north via the new access road, with separate routes for lorry and car traffic. The access road for the lorries is in spatial synergy with the adjacent KAESER Yard to the north. The bypass of the 4 fast-charging bays takes into account the necessary storage space for the future increase in lorry loading traffic and the Sprinter bays for maintenance and deliveries. The transformer and switchgear rooms, which can be accessed from the outside, are located in the area of the spacious roof.

To the east is the entrance and exit for car traffic. The vertically aligned EV charging bays two-way traffic lane are optimised for the purposes of the Parking Ordinance by the radial arrangement with regard to entry and exit. In the outer radius, the entry angle increases in favour of clarity and overall the installation takes into account ease of use for vehicles with both front and rear plug arrangements on the vehicle. The parking spaces without charging function are located to the east of the lane. Parallel to the belt, a footpath connects each EV charging bay and opens up access to the central oasis for visitors. The extension of Christenstrasse will be converted into a flanking cycle path. In principle, the degree of sealed surfaces is limited to the lorry manoeuvring area and the traffic lane the length of the belt. All parking spaces are designed to be permeable with lined turf stones.

ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT

The floating belt is characterised by its wooden structure and will have a transparent glass covering with solar modules over the charging bays. Planting troughs with intensive green roofs are used at the edges. The glass roof is airily elevated above two drainage channels that collect the rainwater and transfer it to the water storage tanks of the oasis. Roof surface and planting are activated in terms of urban ecology as bird nesting sites, bat roosts and an insect hotel. The curved roof contour already forms an identity-defining architecture in the realisation part, whose modular structure takes into account different construction phases. In the ideas section, the structure offers the opportunity to spatially define the green-blue centre and to create an attractive attraction for the neighbouring recreational area in addition to shopping. The barn located in the neighbourhood of the Hessenhof will be renovated and integrated into the roof contour. An organic marketplace for regional products and bicycle hire for trips to the Goldbergsee recreation area will be set up here as a sign of resource-conserving use of the existing buildings.

The ring-shaped service block can be reached on dry ground from all charging bays thanks to the roofing. Via an access core with a barrier-free lift, visitors reach a platform that is open for use and provides a view of both the landscape and the KAESER administration building. In the public reception area there is a self-service café with catering facilities and a multifunctional exhibition and event room. The central WC areas, the internal technical areas and the caretaker service are connected via a walkway. The escape routes are secured via two external staircases. Café and snack vending machines are integrated in the area of the access core for the ground-level terrace of the blue-green oasis.

The ring-shaped structure enables a high degree of prefabrication of the structural elements. The façade elements are arranged in a scaled circular rotation and have controlled ventilation flaps in the vertical profiles, which enable good natural ventilation and can also be used for night-time cooling. The transparent façade areas in the public areas will be fitted with electrochromic glazing to provide thermal insulation in summer. The individually switchable solar control glass for shading and glare ensures highly effective daylight management. The heating and cooling requirements in the building are met by a water-based underfloor heating system.

STATIC-CONSTRUCTIVE CONCEPT

The construction of the charging station canopies consists of Y-shaped hollow steel profile supports with radial hollow profile box girders and cross-laminated timber ribs suspended between them. To stiffen and transfer asymmetrical loads, such as from underwind, the steel supports are fixed at their base point

by means of base plates set in concrete, which also serve as impact protection. The hollow profiles forming a circle on the ground plan are designed as welded profiles in order to produce the curved shape with little effort. Slotted plates are attached to the sides of the hollow profile webs, which ensure the force transfer with the cross-laminated timber ribs via rod dowels. The arrangement of the cross-laminated timber ribs under the roof surface and the roof overhang ensure structural timber protection. The roof surface itself consists of semi-transparent photovoltaic elements and stainless steel sheets in the green roof area.

The construction principle of cross-laminated timber secondary beams suspended between hollow steel sections is retained in the two-storey section of the exhibition building. Due to the higher loads, however, the loads are transferred via pairs of columns on both storeys. In the area of the carriageway superstructure with the correspondingly larger spans, the cross-sections of the hollow steel sections are increased accordingly in the form of beams. The ceiling panels are solid veneer plywood panels, with mineral fill above the ground floor to prevent vibrations. The building is braced via the solid access core. The clearly structured and vertically minimised load-bearing structure runs optimally through all components without offset and, with the exception of the foundations and the access core, enables complete prefabrication, so that an economical, time-optimised and effective construction process can be realised.

SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE PROTECTION

The modular structure of the roofing with constantly repeating individual elements ensures a high degree of prefabrication with a correspondingly high quality of execution and minimised construction time. The timber and steel construction materials with the simple connection via rod dowels offers the possibility of simple dismantling, reuse and integration into the circular economy. The principle of sustainability in terms of climate protection, water management, biodiversity, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness is pursued in the design of the open spaces on the site. The proportion of sealed surfaces is reduced to a functional minimum. The correspondingly high proportion of greenery ensures significantly increased evaporation of rainwater and dust binding, which contributes to a positive microclimate. The planned new trees provide additional shade and reduce the formation of heat islands. The rainwater is also retained in the rain garden on the property during heavy rainfall events. The microclimate is additionally cooled by the evaporation of rainwater.

OPEN SPACE CONCEPT

The design of the charging station as a continuous open element enables clear zoning of the interior and exterior, so that two different open spaces can be designed – the charging station is deliberately conceived as a transparent connecting element and not as separating architecture. The various open spaces offer different atmospheres and activity options to meet the diverse needs of users. From quiet retreats to active play and fitness areas, there is something for everyone. In the ideas section, the charging station is not only designed to be functional for charging, parking and renting bicycles and e-bikes, but also as a versatile element for play and sports.

PARK – the area between the charging station and the neighbouring roads will be developed as a park landscape. It acts as a strong green framework and at the same time forms two direct links to the surrounding landscape. Numerous opportunities for play and sports will be created in the park, including a four-elements trail. Visitors of all ages can playfully explore the elements water, earth, fire and air. A large circular path runs through the park and provides connections to the surrounding area and the charging station. The Hessenhof's outdoor catering area will be integrated into the park.

OASIS – a rain garden is being created in the centre of the charging station, an oasis for people and nature. The oasis radiates a calming atmosphere and invites you to linger and relax. Various surfaces are modelled by terracing, which can be used as water troughs or permanent water areas. The troughs collect the rainwater and retain it for evaporation and infiltration. Attached to the central service building, a large terrace will form the centrepiece of the oasis. This is directly connected to the discovery walkway in the rain garden and invites the curious on an exploratory tour through the oasis. The use of moisture-tolerant reed planting and riparian trees completes the image of an oasis.

ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY IN TERMS OF INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

The combination of almost CO2-neutral timber as a building material with an optimised steel construction enables a good balance between energy consumption in production and strength without the use of cement-bound materials. All structural components of the building can be manufactured and are available using common, proven and standardised construction methods. The deliberate avoidance of special constructions and the associated expected wide range of bidders mean that sensible price competition and short-term realisability can be expected. All parts of the supporting structure are accessible and can be inspected at low cost using a cherry picker and checked at any time during the period of use.