PROJECT ROOFKIT.

Design Challenge

Our team will address the urgent questions of urban energy transition by exploring a gigantic surface resource within our cities: the rooftops.
The idea is to design a proto-typology, that can find its application anywhere. We understand the prototype as a physical manifestation of an ideology or thinking. Therefore the science and theory can be applied in various location, even if the physical form might and need to change adapting to the given context. And so the team name „roof“-„kit“ is also explained by this essential parameter.
The urban task is about the renovation & addition of storey, following the idea to sustainably increase urban density. Our site in Wuppertal is on top of Café ADA, an internationally recognized artistic center, for latin american dances and music. The historic building becomes an integral part of the design concept. The current utilization as café, ballroom and accommodation will be strengthened by giving them additional spaces.

The ball room is shifted one floor upwards to the newly-created urban gap, which forms a transition between the existing structure and the extension. Due to the visible structure and a glass facade, the ball room is now connected to the urban context.

The space thus gained on the second floor is used to establish accommodation for international artists and visitors. Prefabricated wooden modules are mounted to a truss girder on one side and rest on the external truss in the gap or the subjacent module on the other side.

explosion drawing of design and HDU

 

Our core design principles for the addition of the existing café ADA are based on the principles of sustainability: ecology, economy, society and aesthetics.

 

Ecology. For our building we are trying to use 100% renewable energies. On the one hand, we close energy cycles by using the buildings residue such as organic waste and sewage for energy and heat generation. On the other hand we harvest solar energy on all possible surfaces as well as on additional solar installations in the backyard like our solar tree.

This way of circular thinking is also needed in the construction itself. One needs to reinvision all construction details, making them fit and ready for a true circular system. Once achieved buildings can become a storage for the future. Accordingly, all the joints and connections of our addition will be a 100% single origin and easily detachable without the usage of any permanent glues, wet sealants and other composite systems.

Economy. By prefabricating the modules the construction process will be faster, more efficient and more affordable. We enable maximum space utilisation by introducing a flexible floorplan and a sharing economy concept in the entire building to reduce the use of private space per person by keeping the communal space generous and use it throughout the day. On our site we also offer shared electric mobility charged by the building and a mobilty hub itself.

Society. We aspire to have social justice by designing without barriers and introducing an inclusive sharing concept of spaces. Due to modular construction the living spaces can adapt and grow with the needs of its inhabitants. With this welcoming concept we want to have a social mix as colourful as the Mirke district itself.

Aesthetics. By enhancing the urban impact our design provides the renovation of café ADA, a new hotel usage in the first floor and the repositioning of the dance floor as an urban gap. The new two housing storeys round the use. With an aesthetically pleasing appearance, as the forth pillar of sustainability, our design creates a high level of comfort worth to be maintained and used for a long lifespan. Through its transferability for other buildings in the district the design is brilliant in showing off the high quality of circular economy and its new comfort.

House Demonstration Unit

A compact house demonstration unit developed from the south-western part of the top floor shows outstanding sustainable design solutions, especially in terms of space efficiency. The unit consists of three modules with a central core, which bundles all technical installation, as well as the kitchen and the bathroom. Besides, a functional wall with foldable furniture, a wardrobe and new storage is added as an additional layer to the eastern wall. Thus, the freely usable space of the unit remains nearly the whole net floor area. A northern skylight provides uniform lighting and high visual comfort.

SDE 21-22: end results

See RoofKIT’s results of the ten sub contests of the Solar Decathlon Europe 21-22 below.

Architecture

Engineering & Construction

Energy Performance

Affordability & Viability

Communication CESA

Sustainability

Comfort

House Functioning

Urban Mobility

Innovation