Our client, ESW - Evangelisches Siedlungswerk , celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the “Holzhygge” project in Westwinkel, Fürth, with its management in fall 2023. There, 38 rental apartments are currently being built in Gabriel-Löwenstein-Straße and Otto-Wels-Straße, which are part of the overall “Westwinkel” project with a total of around 200 rental apartments, 45 terraced and semi-detached houses, a children's center and a day care center for children with special educational needs. Overall, Alpha IC is supporting DGNB certification in this project, was responsible for the building physics consulting (sound and heat insulation) and took over the subsidy support (KfW subsidy, Efficiency House 55). A daylight simulation is also part of the DGNB certification. Our simulation expert Eike Jörn Klitzsch explains the benefits: “With the SOC 1.4 criterion, the quality of daylight availability in the living area is assessed as part of DGNB certification and visual comfort is assessed. The availability of daylight in the living space is of great importance for physiological well-being. A daylight simulation can be used to determine the quality of the daylight supply and evaluate it graphically. The graphic visualization can also support the architecture if there are recommended improvements to window positions or window dimensions to increase visual comfort.

The three images show the processing path from an architectural model via the 3D model adapted to the simulation to the results of the daylight simulation.”

In general, DGNB Gold certification examines the efficient use of resources, the environmental compatibility of the materials used, the social contribution of the project and the suitability of the floor plans for future living concepts. We successfully achieved this goal together! 

As the residential buildings are built in timber construction and even the elevator shaft is made of wood, we were faced with special challenges when implementing the sound and heat insulation. These were that only a few calculation methods exist for this type of construction and many things have to be designed individually and on the basis of measurements. According to current planning, however, the increased sound insulation between the apartments is complied with. 

We are delighted with the dedicated work of our experts and the constructive collaboration with our client, ESW - Evangelisches Siedlungswerk. Together, we are working towards achieving DGNB Gold certification in order to make a positive contribution to the environment and future users.