I am the RESI: low tech, zero energy but full of power!

[RESI] - the new low-tech and zero-energy office building on Lagarde   

To answer one question right from the start. The [RESI] is called RESI because the initial letters of Responsibility, Excellence, Sustainability and Innovation make up precisely this positive, likeable, lively name. And that makes [RESI] exactly the right name for a building that is special in many respects.

The location:   

The Platz der Menschenrechte is located in the middle of a 23-hectare inner-city conversion area, where American armed forces were stationed until 2014. Located at the head of the Platz der Menschenrechte with the meaningful address "Platz der Menschenrechte 1", between the historic riding hall of the 17th cavalry squadron and the former post hall intended for cultural use, the sustainably developed office building by Münster architects hehnpohl marks a special place in the so-called cultural quarter on the Lagarde Campus of the city of Bamberg.

 Ambitious project idea - stressful solution:  

Inspired by Baumschlager Eberle's building 2226 in Lustenau, [RESI] was to be an office building without heating and cooling. In a one-year planning and development process together with architects and the construction company, the aim was to test the limits: climate responsibility versus economic feasibility as a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). 

The result is a climate-resistant, low-tech building with a net-zero approach, life cycle assessment and a building resource passport:

• Our own thermal simulations, daylight and shading simulations and energy simulations provided the best possible support for the development of the building, its architecture, our low-tech and net-zero approach: how big are the windows and rooms, how are the rooms arranged, how much storage mass does the house need to have...?
• Low-tech building means that the property has no static, water-bearing heating and no active cooling. This is made possible by high building masses and an intelligent ventilation concept. There is an electric heating coil to heat the air for possible peaks. For the warmer months of the year, controlled night ventilation is provided to cool the storage masses sufficiently..​
• With the PV system for generating electricity on the roof, we are aiming for a balanced CO2 balance throughout the year, a net-zero building
• In the spirit of circular construction, we use recycled concrete and recycled clinker brick slips, for example, and work with a building resource passport. The use of clay, for example, had to be scrapped for cost reasons..​
• A DGNB certification with at least silver is achieved
• We draw up a life cycle assessment and achieve 99 out of 100 points (which is above average)
• In terms of the resilience and sustainability of our building, we prepare a climate risk analysis and climate protection roadmap​
• We select our building materials according to material-ecological criteria, including for the interior​
• We are realizing an efficiency building 40 with NH class based on passive house standards. The new building is subsidized as an efficiency building 40 with sustainability class (NH class) as part of the federal subsidy for efficient buildings (BEG). The corresponding KfW program number is 263 and is called "Non-residential buildings - loan" (until 28.02.2023; thereafter only related to existing buildings)

The client - copycat wanted:   

Sebastian Hölzlein is the co-founder and managing partner of Alpha IC GmbH and also the building owner. As such, he also represents various interests vis-à-vis his employees, who are involved in a participatory process for their new sustainable working environment at [RESI]. His vision was a climate-resilient office building without heating and cooling. And so it has become a pilot project for sustainable construction that can also be financed by other SMEs.

Integrated architecture - award-winning brickwork   

The architectural partners for the sustainable office building are hehnpohl Architektur from Münster. Office partners Dipl.-Ing. Christian Pohl, architect BdA, and André Siering, M. A. - architect BdA, are responsible for the design and concept: "The holistic character of the building should reflect the spirit and identification with Alpha IC. Building in a historical context is always a great incentive for us and a challenge for our architectural work. The approach was to give the remaining urban building block on Platz der Menschenrechte an appropriate form and to translate the architecture of the surrounding buildings into a contemporary architectural language. It was important to dissolve the architectural severity of the surrounding buildings into a differentiated form and at the same time create an expressive square edge for the Platz der Menschenrechte."

The "Guaranteed maximum price" contract model   

Another aspect that makes this pilot project for sustainable construction a pilot project is the "Guaranteed maximum price" contract model, which we are using to realize the construction together with ZECH Bau SE. Zech Bau has already provided advice during the six-month pre-construction phase. This means that a partnership-based collaboration between the client and general contractor is firmly established.  

Working with friends - office tenants and café operators wanted   

In the new building with a gross floor area of 2,079 square meters, there is space for a café on the first floor and up to three office units on the second floor in addition to the new headquarters of Alpha IC GmbH. The office space is being developed in a healthy and sustainable way with the aim of achieving a high level of user comfort and is designed according to the principle of activity-based working. Thanks to the concept as a net-zero building, [RESI] can score points with a gross rental concept with warm rents. Are you interested in one of the three rental offices or in running the café? Please contact us: