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SERIEN STUDIERENDE ENTWERFEN • STUDENTS DESIGN

T he setting for the design of my diploma thesis at TU Dresden, supervised by Pro-
fessor Benedikt Schulz, is the Baltic Sea resort of Binz, on the coast of the island
of Rügen. There, between the sea and the nature reserve, a multigenerational
neighbourhood is being created, supported by its strong community character. As a
sustainable alternative to the classic single-family home, contemporary approaches
to communal living will be offered alongside conventional, familiar forms of housing,
demonstrating that dense living space can also be created in a rural context. The in-
tergenerational quarter comprises an ensemble of five residential buildings arranged
around a central courtyard, the green heart of the estate. A hiking trail from the south
all the way to the Baltic Sea creates a connection between the ensemble, the forest
landscape and the sea. To complete the design, a mourning hall with adjacent pavi-
lion is designed for the nearby cemetery. Public functions are integrated on the
ground floor of each building in order to maintain a connection to the immediate
surroundings and the local community. One of the five buildings, for example, ac-
commodates the neighbourhood kindergarten. The concept’s community character
is particularly evident in the versatile room programme, including an event hall, fle-
xibly usable common rooms and a spacious roof terrace. As a historically evolved
Inmitten von Wald befindet sich die Trauerhalle. • The mourning hall in the middle of the forest. seaside resort, Binz is distinguished by its special spa architecture and stands out
from the simplicity of the modern architecture that was prevalent at the time. Con-
trary to the premise of this era, the spa architecture was not sparing with ornamen-
Licht und Schatten inszenieren die sakrale Atmosphäre. • Light and shadow: stage for the sacred atmosphere tation: generously decorated verandas, loggias and balconies are omnipresent de-
sign elements. As a reminiscence of the Rügen villas, their essence was transferred
in an abstract form to the balcony zone and the smaller buildings.

A cluster concept enables needs-based living

Based on two different basic principles, the complexity of the generations is reflected
in the housing typologies. On the one hand, the concept of the quarter is based on
conventional flats for families and living communities as self-contained units; on the
other hand, it is based on the scheme of cluster housing. In this type of layout, a unit
of private flats is attached to a collectively used living area – the privacy of the residents
is maintained and social interaction is promoted at the same time. Equally central to
the design were accessibility and inclusive housing – as a possible future-oriented so-
lution, reference is made to current discourses and the demand for unconventional
forms of housing. The concept of cluster apartments can be individually extended in
the quarter by rentable workspaces as home offices. Based on a flexible system of
basic typologies, it is possible to adapt the flat sizes according to the residents. The
desire for a greater sense of community and the need for smaller living space could
thus be met. The green inner courtyard of the ensemble connects the individual buil-
Grundriss Trauerhalle und Pavillon der Stille • Ground floor plan mourning hall and pavilion of silence dings with each other, promotes communication among the residents and completes
the idea of collective multigenerational living. Botany and landscaping have also been
taken into account in the design: between the buildings, green spaces with newly plan-
ted fruit trees provide targeted views to the forest and embed the quarter in its sur-
roundings. This horticultural idea is continued on the roof terraces – raised beds en-
able self-sufficiency with food grown on site. In the northwest, a herb meadow adjoins
the estate. The idea of sustainability is reflected in the materiality of the architecture:
natural raw materials are used for the load-bearing structure and for the interior fit-
tings and cladding. A wooden skeleton construction made of regional silver fir provi-
des for flexible, modular floor plans; the façade is made of larch wood. In order to
meet all fire protection requirements, the interior spruce panelling is additionally pain-
ted with a transparent protective layer that does not impair the appearance of the woo-
den surfaces. The choice of materials tangibly expresses the connection to the wooded
surroundings. A mourning hall is to function as a link between the nearby cemetery
and the multigenerational quarter, but still present itself as independent architecture
in the forest. Designed as a simple, symmetrical brick building, the material quality of
the sacred hall creates an analogy to the silence and heaviness that the theme of death
implies. A particular focus of the concept was the staging of light and shadow in the
interior. Light plays a decisive role in determining the atmosphere. The mourning hall
is accompanied by the so-called “Pavilion of Silence”, which opens towards the forest
with a fountain and seating. The starting point for the design, both of the residential
quarter and the mourning hall, was the idea of community and harmony with the na-
ture typical of the island of Rügen. Since the diploma design met with great approval
in the municipality of Binz, it was acquired as the basis for a land-use plan.

040 • AIT 10.2022