werner sobek: r128

south elevation

werner sobek (wsi) werner sobek was born in aachen in 1953. the german engineer and architect founded werner sobek ingenieure (wsi) in 1992, a structural engeneering and design consultancy. wsi concentrates mainly on design and high - end engineering. since 1995 sobek has worked as a professor at the university of stuttgart (successor of frei otto) and the director of the institute of leightweight structures. some of the most important works of wsi are the sony center in berlin, the new bangkok international airport and the ecole nationale d'art decoratif at limoges. r128 building his own house r128 (roemerstrasse 128) werner sobek took the residencial technology to the highest possible level of sophistication. the building represents not a classical show house. it is totally fitted to the special property as well as the needs and demands of the occupants. it is floating high on a hill overlooking the city of stuttgart. the property itself is difficult to access because of its steep slope and narrow approach. the founding of the building consists of a floor slab with an integrated ice - wall and a drain located underneath

contains a lot of conductions. the building has no basement. the cube wrapped in a glass shield is an ecological show house of precise minimalism. all components of the r128 are fully recyclable. the modular design consisting of glas panels and a steel frame guarantee an easy assembly and disassembly of the house. sobek intends a maximum of comfort as well as openness, transparence and brightness transposing the principles of lightweight structure to the minimum. thus you have an unique view to the outside from every single point in the house which creates a totally new experience of space. the function, design and formation influencing each other form a connecting unity. energetic and climatic concept the high quality triple glazed glas with inert gas filling and convection barrier represents the basis of the energetic concept of the r128. the insulated glass panels avoid an

overheating of the inside in the summer and a loss of energy and warmth to the outside in the winter. they guarantee an excellent translucence and a very high value of heat insulation at the same time. at the top and the bottom level of the house there are sensor controlled doors. on each floor two folding windows were installed to guarantee a natural supply and circulation of fresh air throughout the whole building. in the summer time cooling water running through floor elements takes up the exceeding heat with the help of a heat exchanger. the surplus of energy is stored and used for the heating in the winter. that is the perfect combination of the highest possible comfort and the minimum of energy consumption. the electricity needed for the heat pump system and the 12.000 litre long - term reservoir is covered by the 48 solar power modules with a capacity of 6.72 kw which are installed on the roof top.

werner sobek: r128, r129; christian erl, steffen knopp

werner sobek: r128

construction and facade the structure of the four storeyed building rests on a grid of twelve columns (3.85 m * 2.90 m). 10 tons of steel were needed to build the supporting frame. all parts of it were prefabricated. it took eleven days to erect the whole steel structure. three sides of the house are reinforced by tension ties. the floors are crisscrossed, too. the columns and beams were screwed on site. the sanitary facilities are fitted into a two storeyed rectangular unit. all functions are controlled non - contactingly by sensors. the structure unit totally disclosed guarantees a maximal transparence and a minimal use of material. a steel structure with flexible junctions allows a minimal weight reduction, a precise assembly and construction process.

werner sobek: r128, r129; christian erl, steffen knopp

werner sobek: r128

controlling technology the maximum of user comfort is reached by the precise built - in of sensor and controlling technology. it allows the regulation of temperature and lighting by touch screens, remote and voice control. based on the vertical and horizontal duct transfer ports are placeable wherever theyre needed. the arbitrarily convertible and renewable ducts make composites redundant. a maximum of flexibility concerning installation is achieved. the guest house located just a few meters away northern of the main building is fully integrated in the climatic concept and the controlling technology of the r 128. all touch screen linked functions are controllable from the guest house and its lighting and temperature from the main builing.

north elevation

inner space

inner room and furnishing the ceilings consist of prefabricated wodden panels overlayed by plastic (d = 6 cm; panels: 3.75 m * 2.80 m). the floors are just put in, not screwed. underneath the floor aluminium ceiling panels are fixed by clip

uctive metry

connections. the lighting, heating and cooling system is fitted into that layer and acts as an acustic absorber pattern. all power supply lines, conductions for communication and water pipes run along the inner side of the facade. thus no in - wall system is needed and by opening it every single function can be attached everywhere. a staircase running over four storeys and a few zones not covered by floor elements create a vertical inner space connecting all levels. the waiver of separating inner walls and the complete vitrification of the building creates a contousness of the horizontal inner and outer space. mobility and reduction to the substance are the primary guidelines concerning the furnishing. the bookshelves consisting of wodden covered steel structures are mobile. the freestanding bathtub is attacheable everywhere in the room. the dining table as well as the desk are designed by the architect himself.

werner sobek: r128, r129; christian erl, steffen knopp