For the University of Tübingen's growing contribution to the 'Cyber Valley' research hub, Danninen Roller Architekten + Partner designed a new Institute for Machine Learning. The four-storey modular timber building, which features a PV system integrated into its facade, was built to Passive House standards and has achieved BNB Silver and Plus-energy certifications.
Prefabricated offsite
The building consists of 52 prefabricated timber room modules, which were manufactured almost to completion offsite in Poland. They were transported to Tübingen, complete with interior fit out and windows, and were then stacked to create the four-storey building. When the modules arrived on site they were assembled in just five days, with the remaining fit out continuing across seven months.
Integrated PV system
The facade makes the modular construction legible: the horizontal and vertical joints between modules are clad in timber, while the regular facade grid features an integrated photovoltaic system and windows that are deliberately shifted between floors. Brise soleils and a green roof further regulate indoor temperatures across seasons.
Interior design
Inside, the floorplate is consistent with its modular origins and the design is completed in muted blue tones with a series of playful accents. As the architects explain, the pink elements that appear throughout the building—in the doors and fittings—draw inspiration from a digital glitch pattern: "Transforming the aesthetics of technical error into a spatial design concept."
Sustainability
The design combines low-impact construction with high operational energy performance. The use of prefabricated timber modules reduces on-site construction and allows the building components to be manufactured under controlled conditions, while the timber structure replaces a more carbon-intensive conventional structural system.
The building is designed to the Effizienzhaus 40 Plus standard and has a building-integrated photovoltaic facade that allows it to generate renewable electricity on site. A high-performance envelope designed to Passive House standards, external solar shading and a green roof further reduce energy demand and environmental impact.
