DESCRIPTION

The design studio Circular Pioneers develops visions for the eco-social renewal of existing buildings. This semester we are designing the transformation process of a vacant administrative building in Regensburg. This practice-based project is develop in close collaboration with the city of Regensburg and the Kulturviertel Regensburg e.V. Together we want to promote regenerative concepts for living, working, and culture for the DSG Divisions Haus building.

We focus on the seven story high building with over 3.000 sqm space by applying local circular systems and their potential for our design concepts. This includes the practices of recycling, transformation, reusing, repairing, and caring. We develop holistic and sustainable concepts towards a future center with community-oriented use. A contemporary circular economy takes into account all material flows along the value chain, from raw material extraction to waste management. We demonstrate the recycling process of materials in 1:1 mock-ups showing a regenerative handling of resources. Our design takes into account the future user together with the existing building on a political, legal and social level.

In order to develop concepts for the transformation and modernisation of the Pionierkaserne that are as resilient and sustainable as possible, three students team up, each with specific expertise in one focus area: Economy, Ecology, and Social.

We start with a field trip to sites of transformation and places of building resources giving us insight knowledge. A hands-on workshop gives us first experience on re-use concepts. In the research phase the student collective will create digital twins, that become a common data-base for all groups. In the design phase specific inputs, as well as external guest will support the student projects towards a public presentation in Regensburg at the end of the semester.

TEACHING TEAM

Prof. Niklas Fanelsa, Victoria Schweyer, Conny Seemann

PARTNER

Stadt Regensburg
Kulturviertel Regensburg e.V. 
 

EXPERTS

Zara Pfeifer
Master Students Wood Oberpfalz
Sebastian Strobl
 

VISITS

Rubina, House for Environment Education and Sustainability, Regensburg
Demolition site, Regensburg
Building materials processing, Regensburg
Stadtwerk Regensburg