Sustainability Report

Highlights

• Sustainable Design: The KinderKunstLabor is designed with a resource-conserving and sustainable approach, preserving the adjacent park landscape.
• Building Integration: Despite its compact size, the building harmonises with the urban environment while serving as a notable landmark.
• Construction Materials: The building’s structure utilises a hybrid approach, combining the ecological benefits of wood with the structural advantages of concrete.

Approaches to minimising embodied carbon and emissions

Wood, a renewable resource and carbon store, is the primary construction material. Concrete is only used where its structural properties are required, such as in foundations or central support elements. The project’s use of energy-intensive materials is significantly reduced, minimising embodied carbon. 

The load-bearing structure employs a hybrid construction principle, combining the ecological benefits of wood with the structural efficiency and cost-effectiveness of concrete. This combination reduces material usage and long-term costs.

The KinderKunstLabor was built exclusively by awarding individual contracts to regional companies. This approach not only strengthened local value creation but also enabled short distances and flexible construction processes.

A conscious decision was made to dispense with material-intensive fixtures such as suspended ceilings and wall cladding in certain parts of the building — this helps achieve a reduced, long-lasting design while saving on finishing costs.

The circulation area of the helix-shaped staircase is used intelligently, providing access and areas for play and events. This contributes significantly to space efficiency.

Sustainable materials include:

• Glulam beams and columns.
• A mix of domestic and Siberian larch wood lamellae provides passive sun protection.
• Wooden mullion-transom facade.
• Ecological thermal insulation (wood and mineral wool).

The project incorporates a groundwater heat pump and rainwater management system.

From the use of wood as a renewable building material to the preservation of existing trees, and from insect and bird-friendly lighting planning to careful consideration of the ecological footprint, every aspect of the design prioritised nature’s protection.