A construction task such as the construction of a new road maintenance depot represents an important component of public services - in this case sponsored by the district of Zwickau with financial participation of the Free State of Saxony. This alone defines the framework in which we act as architects and planners. We build for the public sector with citizens' money for the colleagues who are responsible for the maintenance of the roads and structures accompanying them. In other words, we are responsible for ensuring that the financial resources used are invested appropriately and sustainably and that an appropriate basis is created for these activities. Last but not least, the aim of the project is to create added value in building culture with the construction task, which is strongly influenced by function, and to set a counterpoint in often faceless commercial areas.

We spend around a third of our entire life at work. In a construction task such as a road maintenance department, the building represents the basis of the actual activity. Road maintenance workers and guards carry out a responsible job that is often not valued sufficiently by the public. Shift and on-call shifts are the norm. This makes it all the more important to have a working environment that does justice to this not only from a functional but also from a social perspective. A working environment that creates identity and creates an address. An environment that enables exchange and interaction. In addition to a clear design concept, our workshop follows the approach of creating space inside and outside that offers a wide range of possibilities for appropriation and participation without being restrictive.

The design concept for the new road maintenance depot has a lot to do with the topic of salt, which is required in large quantities in road maintenance depots. Salt ensures winter safety on the roads, but it may also destroy buildings. The tolerant materiality derived from this - concrete and larch wood - can be found both inside and outside and plays with the original task of the road guards - the measured use of salt.

The company building was designed from semi-finished parts that remain visible from the inside with a hung larch wood facade, which is constructed at the same level as the concrete base and is nestled on a single floor around Hall 1, which is made of fully prefabricated parts and into which open storage boxes are integrated. In contrast, Halls 2 / 3 are a glued wood construction with a larch wood facade on a solid in-situ concrete base. The two salt silos made of larch wood stand in a design unity.

The materials of the buildings and also the outdoor areas were chosen for longevity and robustness. In terms of energy, a large part of the energy required is generated regeneratively. A geothermal system, photothermal energy for heating domestic water as well as rainwater utilization for brine preparation and the washing system were built. Finally, the topic of electromobility was considered with charging stations for cars and a transformer station for future electric trucks.

Environmental, social and economic sustainability played an essential role in the conception of the project. In addition to the already mentioned aspects of social interaction, longevity and robustness as well as energy efficiency, which also includes the storage capacity of the materials, what is particularly important in this project is the intensive processual nature of the collaboration between all those involved, which leads to a reduction in the building mass compared to the standard room program.

New construction of road maintenance depot in Werdau / OT Langenhessen

Category: Public, Industrial, Indoor
Client: Zwickau district

Design: Hendrik Heine

Services: Object planning for buildings Lph 1-9, object planning for interiors Lph 1-9, thermal insulation, fire protection
Project partners: sLandArt, engineering office HLS Günter Grünewald, engineering office electrical planning Axel Mayer, RPB Rückert GmbH, Dresden, SCHÄLZKY Bauingenieure GmbH
Start of performance: 2018
Completion: 2021

Photos: architectural photographer Steffen Spitzner