The relocation of CUBITY from its current location in Frankfurt am Main to the Poolplatz in Merzenich (NRW) has begun
The CUBITY relocation is based on the premise of sustainability, prevention of environmental pollution and responsible use of resources.
As a climate-neutral building, the CUBITY project addresses a wide range of sustainability issues right from the start, and so the development of a holistic energy concept and its technical implementation are closely linked to the architectural and social science aspects of the project. The concept of “sufficiency” brings together “square meter” und “kilowatt hour” in the question: What do we really need?
Reuse instead of recycle!
The motto is “reuse instead of recycle.” When dismantling the solar, sanitary and electrical systems, measuring devices, sensors, floor elements, furnishings and other trades, as many materials as possible are retained and reused for the construction in Merzenich. “Our foundation pursues a holistic sustainability strategy and sustainable action is non-negotiable in such projects,” emphasizes Dipl.-Ing. Markus Schmale, architect BDA, Chairman of the Board of the Britta and Ulrich Findeisen Foundation for Art and Architecture. Only the non-reusable materials are recycled.
Efficient processes for dismantling and reassembly
The contractors Thomas Gebert Sanitaer Heizung Klimatechnik from Much (Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, NRW) and Kaaster a.s. e-tec Andreas Stein Elektrotechnik GmbH (Rhein-Kreis Neuss, NRW) are not only long-standing partners of the foundation and the architectural firm Schmale Architects from Grevenbroich/Cologne (NRW), which is entrusted with the construction management, but also meet the high quality and technical requirements for the project.
Preparatory work on the interior of CUBITY on the corner of Melibocusstrasse and Adolf-Miersch-Strasse in Frankfurt has been underway since the end of April. Outside, the Neuss-based specialist company Preusche GmbH (NRW) has made space for the scaffolding by dismantling the entrance steps and ramp as well as the terrace. The spectacular dismantling of the 12 residential cubes, which are being transported by truck in a pack of two, as well as the timber construction, the windows and the facade will take place next week by the well-coordinated Dormagen (NRW) project team of the construction logistics company Zeppelin Rental GmbH, the Meppen ( Niedersachsen) Remusfenster GmbH and the Wimmelburg (Sachsen-Anhalt) plastics company TLT-Ernst. The construction elements are then separated from each other and loaded onto the articulated trucks using a crane.
After the dismantling of the CUBITY building and the foundation stilts, the area on the Nassauischen Heimstätte property will be re-greened
The CUBITY Atelier House is given a new purpose for major tasks
The Britta and Ulrich Findeisen Foundation for Art and Architecture, based in Cologne, acquired the multi-award-winning building, which was designed by TU Darmstadt, at the turn of 2021/22. CUBITY is now being dismantled and will travel from Frankfurt to Poolplatz in the municipality of Merzenich in the district of Dueren. There it will be rebuilt as the CUBITY Atelier House with a new utilization concept as a pioneering location for education, teaching and research. “So far, we have been able to realize the CUBITY project with great support from the Department of Architecture at TU Darmstadt, the initial developer Deutsche Fertighaus Holding AG (DFH) from Simmern and the current user Nassauischen Heimstätte Wohnstadt from Frankfurt am Main, and we look forward to welcoming further partners, sponsors and supporters of the planned research and educational projects at the new location,” explains Markus Schmale.
Pioneering location for knowledge transformation in the municipality of Merzenich (NRW)
From mid-2022, people from all over the world will be able to temporarily research and live in CUBITY on the topics of architecture, urban planning, nature and landscape development as part of the structural change at the Hambach open-cast mine. Among other things, the topics of Hambach open-cast mine, Hambach Forest and the transformation of Alt-Morschenich into a “place of the future” can be examined in more detail here.
Further information can be found at https://stiftung-findeisen.de/cubity-atelierhaus/ and in the presentation.