When talking about commercial or industrial construction projects, attributes such as appropriate or functional – square, practical, good – almost always come up. In the commercial sector, the descriptions are usually associated with a negative image, and attention to creative possibilities often falls by the wayside.
The Merchants in Lübeck therefore began early on to counteract this trend and established the architecture prize for exemplary commercial buildings 24 years ago. A jury of experienced experts has now determined the winners for 2022, taking into account aspects such as design and functionality as well as benefits for the city.
For a successful existing building and for an exemplary new building, this was now the case City parking garage Hüxstrasse and a Office building in Kastorf excellent. Jury chairman Prof. Heiner Lippe about the work of the architect Matthias Homann and client Carsten Löntz on the City Parkhaus Hüxstraße: “The building – the beginnings of today’s situation date back to 1968 – is a steel skeleton building, which housed a multi-storey car park, gas station and car wash, as well as shops on the ground floor and basement. A significant turning point came in 1984 with the omission of the gas station and car wash. Several changes of use in the following years testify to the changeability of the original architecture, as well as the commitment of the respective owners to appreciate the existing building. Expressed in terms of sustainability, the already existing “grey energy”, i.e. the energy that was already brought in years ago by the existing building materials, was preserved in an excellent way and thus additional Co2 emissions were avoided”.
But there are also other aspects to be emphasized in this regard. A newly installed, simple and energy-efficient parking steering system avoids unnecessary circling around to look for a free parking space – pollutant and noise emissions are reduced. “A lot of attention was also paid to energy efficiency and sustainability with regard to new materials and systems to be installed. A photovoltaic area on the roof reduces the use of fossil resources and greenhouse gas emissions, symbolizing and finalizing these approaches,” adds Heiner Lippe.
The second prize goes to the client, Claus Rodenberg, architect Uwe Ellinghaus, who built an independent extension to the original building of the Claus Rodenberg Group’s headquarters in Kastorf. “No detail is left to chance or arbitrariness, everything is thought out down to the smallest detail with respect for the material. One notices the friends in the design of the components, walls, ceilings, doors, the rooms. This positive aura also has an impact on the working atmosphere. The project contains a variety of sustainable, technical solutions that have not yet found their way everywhere. This affects both the building technology itself and, for example, the provision of e-charging stations and the corresponding vehicles for operational short-distance journeys.”