Housing + Commercial Block Keim + Sill | Rathenow, Germany | 1997 | Housing + Commercial Prefab Score
65
This project is a renovation of an old 19th century building into a mixed-use program. The existing front half of the building was rehabilitated as residential. The back half of the building received an addition of twelve prefab containers forming an engineering firm studio. The total addition to the rear facade is 900 square meters. Materials include reinforced concrete, corrugated aluminum panels/sheeting, steel frame, stainless steel hardware, glass, and insulated wall and roof panels. The prefab containers are assembled with sanitary, under-floor heating system, electrical, plumbing, and communication services. The process of assembly involve preparing the existing building to receive the structures and to allow for services to be plugged in. The structural columns are then put in place and beams are added to support the container units. Finally, containers are “plugged into� the structure and service systems. Some containers are connected through the use of a coupling piece while others are divided by partitions