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Hans Scharoun's Schminke House in Löbau (Saxony)
Building Science Aspects, Heating and Ventilation Concepts
Architect Hans Scharoun (1893-1972). with ßaume/sfer Waiter Vetter (1891-1947)
design and building phase: 1930-1933, restoration; 1998-2000
by Dr.-lng. Klaus Graupner
The Schminke house {Haus Schminke) - which belongs
to the classic Modern architecture of the 20'^ C - was built
some 75 years ago. At that time the scientific discipline
Building Science {Bauphysik, Bauktimatik) did not yet
exist. Today, building science is a recognized branch of
engineering science. The term Building Science
{Baukiimatik) signifies particulariy the holistic view on
aspects like heat/moisture protection, heating, ventilation
and utilization. "Holistic" means, in this case, that no
defects or building damages, which are conditioned by the
climate, may occur at any time of the year. Speaking of
climatic requirements concerning the utilization of the
building and its parts implies the "present-day",
respectively "modern" use.
These are generally speaking climatic requirements,
which were not yet relevant when the building was
erected.
In other words: One has to count with climate-conditioned
problems up to severe damages to the building and its
equipment, if during the planning process the relevant
building science aspects are not recognized and
respected in their full complexity.
Like other buiidings of the classic Modern Movement, the
Haus Schminke has a - from today's viewpoint - deficient
heat insulation and holds numerous technical details
which are even worse in terms of building science (cold
bridges etc.).
But: The historical building Haus Schminke did function
well from the building science aspect and no climate-
conditioned severe damages could be traced.
This means that: The existent components - heat
insulation / utilization / heating / ventilation - resulted in a
functioning system in terms of building science! This was
due primarily to the architect and his technical assistants.
For today's "modern building" practice conditions are in
many ways completely different from the time in which
Haus Schminke was built. These prevailing conditions
imply - strictly speaking - almost the exclusion of climate-
conditioned damages, since there are now for example:
- numerous technical possibilities for the general
structure of a building;
- numerous very good technical details for construction;
- numerous technical possibilities regarding the heating
and ventilation equipment, and
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1 •,-
- since Building Science {Bauphysik and Baukiimatik) is
now a recognized branch within engineering science.
Nevertheless: A great part of today's building production
does not perform well, or not at all, from the aspect of
building science! This assessment gains even more
importance if for a judgment of its functioning the aspect
of "energy consumption for the building's cooling during
the hot season" is included.
This obvious but sad observation about today's
architecture may have a number of reasons and
influences. Essential are:
- The architect and his knowledge level about
elementary coherences in the building physics field.
(Principally this is also valid for the planner of heating
and ventilating equipment.) Could it be the case that -
at least some - architects aim at a good aesthetic
result, while neglecting however the technical (and
physical) functioning?
- An insufficient cooperation between the architect, the
planner of heating/ventilation, and the building
science engineer.
About the catchphrase "Cooperation in planning":
in this respect too Haus Schminke can be seen as
exemplary. The level of practical cooperation between
architect and heating planner of some 75 years ago is not
reached nowadays, neither in new building, nor in
restorations of old ones. The today possible and sensible
inclusion of a building science engineer, especially when it
comes to historical architecture, is still not common.
As a whole, the historical heating and ventilation concept
of Haus Schminke was plausible in such a degree - also
as regards the building science aspect in general - that it
could be accepted for the renovation. Above all: It has
proved itself in practice over a long period!
Out of renovation practice of classic modern buildings one
may often observe a very particular phenomenon: Parts of
the historical building's equipment still exist. In Haus
Schminke this is true particularly for the heating
equipment. It was the aim to conserve the historical
technical equipment and even, to a great extent, to use it.
It was important to preserve it as a technical monument,
but primarily as an inseparable component of the interior
arrangement and furnishing. The stock of original cast iron
radiators {Rippenheizkörper) was the primary concern.
Due not least to the excellent handicraft of the involved
finns the above-mentioned aim could be achieved.
47 Climate and Buiiding Physics in the Modem Movement
In the following some technical details will be explained.
Ventilation
There are a multitude of options for window ventilation in
Haus Sctimintie. Among these, there is a remarkable
differentiation, so that the user's demands in summer and
winter may always be complied with. This may be the
case for classic modern architecture in general, whereas
today's window construction does not reach this at large!
Heating
Consequently, heat is supplied chiefly in sitting areas
(thermal zoning). In order to compensate for the
discomfort raising from the windows (cold surfaces, draft
effects), the radiatore are placed underneath the windows
in full width. The warm air ascending from the radiators is
not obstructed by the windowsills.
Special notice deserves a partial radiant floor heating,
which exists in the northern part of the winter garden. The
heating element, in shape of a simple pipe coil (two
parallel tubes connected with an end curve), is located
directly over the deep-set basic floor surface, A metal
grating serves as a cover.
Because the pipe coil is not embedded in the basic floor's
concrete this radiant floor heating system is less inert
compared to today's common floor heating systems, and
it may be easily tailored to meet the requirements.
Actually, the denomination "radiant floor heating" is not
quite correct when it comes to this construction, it is a
combination of radiant floor heating and air heating.
Through the holes of the gratings cool room air may be
led directly next to the pipe coil, warmed up there in order
to reach the room again through the openings as warm
air. From the viewpoint of building science a very sensible
solution, dating as early as around 1930. (Compare
contribution by Emanuelle Gallo; ed.)
Thermal Bridges and Windows
The tHaus Schminke is a steel skeleton structure and
shows numerous thermal bridges (spots with thermal
losses), for example cantilevers, encasements for blinds,
joining of materials. The actual original windows - a single
glass pane in an unsealed metal frame - were in winter
even colder than the thermal bridges, and thus, if any
condensation should occur, it would be on the glass
surface.
Since the thermal bridges could not be eliminated in
genera!, from building science and other viewpoints a
replacement of the historical windows by today's heat-
insulating glass was not appropriate. In winter the
inadequate heat-insulation of the windows could - and
still can - be improved essentially by closing the exterior
roller Venetian blinds and by the curtains, thus obtaining a
temporary heat-insulation effect. (The two sliding doors
connecting the living space with the spacious hall and the
winter garden reduce in winter cold draft and heating-
energy loss; ed.)
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Heat Protection in Summer
In summer heating-up of the building could be evaded by
the existent heat protection devices (exterior Venetian
blinds and light-coloured curtains) together with excellent
ventilation possiblities (cross-ventilation throughout the
whole building). Thus, instead of a mechanical air-
conditioning a conscious application of built-in equipment!
Final Statement
The house for the Schminke family, realized by the
architect Hans Scharoun, is not only one of the major
masterpieces of classic 20'^ C modern architecture, but
also from a conceptional viewpoint a highlight of building
science, with a convincing technical implementation.
The building science conception - whioh lacks in terms of
an explicit document - and its still existent technical
realization were far ahead of their time. Even now the
holistic approach might stand any criticism. One will
hardly find this engineering aspect mentioned in any other
publications on the restoration of Haus Scfiminke.
Moreover - astonishingly - one will even fail to recognize
it in many buildings of the "present-day Modern
Movement" . . .
References
On the history and restoration of the Schminke house
please read:
Burkhardt B. (editor), Scharoun, Haus Scfiminke. die
Geschichte einer Instandsetzung, Karl Krämer Verlag
Stuttgart - 2002. ISBN 3-7828-1514-9
This pubiication contains a comprehensive presentation of
building science aspects: Graupner, K., Lobers, F.
Bauklimatische Aspekte, Heizungs- und Lüftungskonzept,
pp, 120-135. The restoration of Haus Schminke took
place under the joined responsibility of the Wüstenrot
Stiftung Ludwigsburg and the Löbau municipality.
Additional financing by the Bundesrepublik Germany and
the Freistaat Sachsen.
Dr.-tng. Klaus Graupner is teaching at the Technische
Universität Dresden. Fakultät Architektur, Institut für
Bauklimatik and tias cooperated in numerous important
renovation projects.
The pictures belonging to this contribution show several aspects
of Haus Schminke. Photographers Friedegard Eiciiler, Ingo
Schneider, Jos Tomlow.
48 Climate and Building Physics in the Modem Movement