Solar silo in Gundeldinger Feld - Basel

Dornacherstrasse 192

4053

Basel, Switzerland

Architect

baubüro in situ ag
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
info@insitu.ch
+41 61 337 84 00

Owner

Kantensprung AG
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
info@kantensprung.ch
+41 61 333 70 70

Contact Details

Dr Arch. Cristina Polo Lopez
SUPSI - University of applied sciences and arts of southern Switzerland
cristina.polo@supsi.ch
+41 58 666 63 14

Other Information

Kerstin Müller, Baubüro in situ AG, Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel, +41 61 337 84 00, info@insitu.ch

Visits
Contact with Kantensprung

Related publications
Monoghaphy of the neighbourhood and some magasine
Top view, © Martin Zeller
As a visible sign of the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energies, the former coal silo and heating plant of the machine factory Sulzer Burckhardt AG in the "Gundeldinger Feld" in Basel is covered with colored PV modules. As part of a research project this best practice building investigates new approaches for BIPV integration as cladding innovative materials and new energy storage strategies. As "Gundeldinger Feld" ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodelled building was required to match the style and colour scheme of the site and all the old industrial area has been reconverted in a new model energy district. The project is part of the "2000 Watt society - pilot region Basel". Solar Silo project that was rewarded in the "renovation" category with the 2015 Swiss Solar Prize.
Energy performance
66 kWh/m2.y

Climate Zone Cfb

Altitude 282 m a.s.l.

HDD 195

CDD 0

Protection level Not listed

Conservation Area:
Yes

Level of Protection:
Gundeldinger Feld as an ensemble is under heritage protection

Building age 1850-1899

Year of last renovation:
2014

Year of previous renovation:
0

Building use Offices

Secondary use:
Educational/Research

Building occupancy:
Permanently occupied

Number of occupants/users:
15

Building area Net floor area [m²]: 606,0

Building typology:
Compact tower

Number of floors:
6

Basement yes/no:
Yes

Number of heated floors:
5

Gross floor area [m²]:
673,0

Thermal envelope area [m²]:
1200,0

Volume [m³]:
2700,0

NFA calculation method:
SIA

Construction type
Concrete masonry wall

External finish:
Exposed Concrete

Internal finish:
Exposed Concrete

Roof type:
Pitched roof

+ MORE - LESS
Top view, © Martin Zeller
Top view, © Martin Zeller
South elevation, © Martin Zeller
South elevation, © Martin Zeller
North elevation, © Martin Zeller
North elevation, © Martin Zeller
Roof view, © Martin Zeller
Roof view, © Martin Zeller
Elevation detail, © Martin Zeller
Elevation detail, © Martin Zeller
Building before intervention, © Martin Zeller
Building before intervention, © Martin Zeller
Odl interior view Factory © in situ
Odl interior view Factory © in situ
Building after intervention, © Martin Zeller
Building after intervention, © Martin Zeller

RENOVATION PROCESS

Architecture

BUILDING DESCRIPTION

The building contained the coal silo and the heating plant for the industrial area named "Gundeldinger Feld". The coal silo "Kohlesilo" of the Sulzer and Burckhardt machine factory in Basel has been modernized and was completely converted into a multi-purpose building.
Urban context
The former site of the Sulzer Burckhardt AG in the „Gundeldingen“ neighborhood in Basel has changed in the last 16 years from an industrial area into a vibrant place with a variety of uses. This transformation process of the „Gundeldinger Feld“ was accompanied by the establishment of cultural, social and commercial uses and has had a positive impact on the immediate environment and the neighborhood. The site is 40-80m x 160m in size and is located close to the center of town.

State of repair

Conditions of the envelope
After the connection to the heating network, the building containing the coal silo and the heating plant became free for other purposes. The nearly 20 meter high coal silo in the heart of the area was the only building that had not yet been repurposed, due to the economically unfavorable high envelope-to-floor ratio.
Description of pre-intervention building services
The ground floor, the former heating plant, has been used for several years by a circus school for children.

HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

ELEMENTS WORTHY OF PRESERVATION
The internal structure of the four coal silos was kept in the interiors, only internal doors were cut out of the concrete shafts. On the outside, the four shafts can be read by looking at the façade (four vertical sections in the façade).
Heritage Value Assesment
As "Gundeldinger Feld" ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodelled building was required to match the style and colour scheme of the site.

Aim of retrofit

Renovation
In 1999 the industrial production abandoned the area. Over a period of 12 years, the initiator have developed the 12’000 m2 property into a district centre. The industrial coal silo has been modernized and was completely converted into a energy efficiency multi-purpose building. Innovative coloured customized photovoltaic modules are used creating a particular visual design to be integrated in the ventilated roof and façade envelope of an industrial refurbished historical building.
Was there any change of use?
The building is remodeled from coal silo into office spaces.
Lessons learned
The cooperation with the department for building conservation went well. The use of the new BIPV elements was not smooth, it took time for all components to work.
Stakeholders Involvement
Public sector
Städtebau & Architektur - Planungsamt (Building and Planning Office)
Dufourstrasse 40/50
Tel.+41 61 267 92 25
Private Sector
Kantensprung AG
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
info@kantensprung.ch
Tel.+41 61 333 70 70
Research Development
FHNW
Muttenz
Architect
baubüro in situ ag
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
info@insitu.ch
Tel.+41 61 337 84 00
Conservation Consultant
Reto Bieli
Imhofstrasse 21, 5000 Aarau
Tel.061 267 66 04
Energy Consultant
Kerstin Müller
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
info@insitu.ch
Tel.+41 61 337 84 00
Structural Engineer
Werner Wassmer
Rain 1, 4424 Arboldswil
Tel.+41 61 931 31 31
Other
SwissINSO AG
Rue de Sébeillon 9B, 1004 Lausanne
info@swissinso.com
Tel.41 21 625 20 01
Other
Agrola AG (Solvatec )
Bordeaux-Strasse 5, 4053 Basel
solvatec@agrola.ch
Tel.+41 58 433 73 73
Other
iRIX Software Engineering AG - Thierry Bosshart
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
thierry.bosshart@irix.ch
Tel.+41 61 367 93 33
Tools used
Was the renovation process done following a specific methodology? No
Energy calculation SIA 380/1:2009
Hygrothermal assessment No
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) No
Other No

RETROFIT SOLUTIONS

External Walls

Concrete

Concrete

The building envelope was thermally insulated. The northern and southern facade (as well as the roof) are equipped with colored PV modules, the east and west facades are plastered. The cladding ventilated facade consists of colored frameless photovoltaic modules and fiber cement panels. An outside stair and lift tower is located on the north side.

As the "Gundeldinger Feld" as an ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodeled building was required to match the style and color scheme of the site.

U-value (pre-intervention) [W/m2K]: 2,0 W/m²K U-value (post-intervention) [W/m2K]: 0,16 W/m²K
More Details
Original wall build-up
Concrete - Bare wall:
200 mm
Concrete - Bare wall:
0 mm
Retrofitted wall build-up
Cladding - Colored frameless photovoltaic modules and fiber cement panels:
16mm
Air gap :
80 mm
Insulation - Mineral wool:
200 mm
Concrete :
209 mm


Windows

Wood window

Wood window

The mostly windowless massive concrete walls do not allow for traditional uses without major structural changes. There were few windows before the remodelling

The existing windows were replaced and openings were cut into the chambers and the facades -> new windows

Existing window U-value Glass [W/m2K]: 3,5 New window U-value Glass[W/m2K]: 0,7 Existing window U-value Frame [W/m2K]: 3,0 New window U-value Frame [W/m2K]: 1,4
More Details
Existing window type Casement window
Existing glazing type Single
Existing shading type None
Approximate installation year 1970
New window type Casement window
New glazing type Triple
New shading type Venetian blinds
New window solar factor g [-] 0,1

Other interventions

ROOF

OTHER

MEASURES TO INCREASE AIRTIGHTNESS

ROOF

The roof has been completely remodeled. Only the sctructural beams remained from the old construction.

As "Gundeldinger Feld" ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodelled building was required to match the style and colour scheme of the site.

U-value (pre-intervention) [W/m2K] 2 U-value (post-intervention) [W/m2K] 0.19
More Details
Original roof build-up
Tiles - Tiles:
30 mm
Other - corrugated sheet with asbestos:
8 mm
Other - INP 10 and INP 20 beams:
300 mm
Retrofitted roof build-up
Other - Photovoltaik-Module:
40 mm
Other - Air (mounting rail, battens, counter battens):
146 mm
Other - Fleece:
2 mm
Other - Insulation:
220 mm
Other - Wood 3-layer board:
27 mm
Other - INP 10 and INP 20 beams:
300 mm
OTHER

By adding three concrete floor slabs into the silo chambers, 200 m2 of floor space for office use were achieved. Openings were cut into the chambers and the facades

As "Gundeldinger Feld" ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodelled building was required to match the style and colour scheme of the site.

MEASURES TO INCREASE AIRTIGHTNESS

The building envelope has been made airtight according to the SIA 180 standard, in particular since the premises that were previously not heated and consequently not even airtight, are now perfectly habitable. The SIA standard requires that all the connections between the construction elements, for example between the window frame and the masonry, are carefully executed. However, no tightness tests were performed.

Airtightness (pre-intervention) [ach@50Pa] 0 Airtightness (post-intervention) [ach@50Pa] 0

HVAC

HEATING

VENTILATION

HEATING

The building is connected since many years at the district heating net from the waste disposal plant IWB Basel (Industrielle Werke Basel). The changes are as follows: • Owner and Tenant decided to reduce the indoor temperature to reduce consumption; • They use thermostats for the regulation; • In the biggest rooms, which are not permanently occupied, some decentral gas heaters are occasionally used to warm up.

The changes doesn’t influence any conservation aspects.

More Details
New primary heating system New secondary heating system
New system type Distrinct heating Decentral heater
Fuel Refuse Incinerator Gas
Distribuition system Radiators none
Nominal power unkwon kW unknow kW
VENTILATION

Ventilation occurs naturally with manual opening of the windows, with the exception of services that have an extraction. The new openings which are used to illuminate the rooms simultaneously serve also for ventilation.

There is no protection on the building. The completely new windows offer optimal thermal and sound protection but in particular they allow to illuminate and aerate the internal spaces in a natural way, which house completely different uses from the original ones. As the "Gundeldinger Feld" as an ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodeled building was required to match the style and color scheme of the site.

More Details
Original roof build-up New ventilation system
Type ventilation system NA (Natural)
Type flow regime NA (Natural)
Heat recovery No
Humitidy recovery No
Nominal power 0 kW
Electric power 0,0 kW
Control system Manual

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Photovoltaic

Photovoltaic

Innovative coloured customized photovoltaic modules are used creating a particular visual design to be integrated in the ventilated roof and façade envelope of an industrial refurbished historical building.

As the „Gundeldinger Feld“ as an ensemble is under heritage protection, the remodeled building was required to match the style and color scheme of the site.

The cladding (facade) consists of colored frameless photovoltaic modules and fiber cement panels. The entire roof is covered with colored and conventional PV modules. The modules are ventilated and serve as the water-bearing stratum.

More Details
Photovoltaic System
Type Monocrystaline
Collector area 159,0 m²
Total nominal power 24,0 kW
Elevation angle 11,0
Azimuth 223,5
Overall yearly production 16400,0 kWh
Heating contribuition 0,0 kW
DHW contribuition 0,0 kW
Cooling contribuition 0,0 kW
Lighting contribuition 0,0 kW

Energy Efficiency

Energy Performance
Energy performance certificate: No
Voluntary certificates: No
Energy Use
Heating
Consumption_estimation_Calculation_method: SIA 380/1:2009
Consumption_estimation_Before: 96,6 kWh/m2.y
Consumption_estimation_After: 66 kWh/m2.y

Primary Energy
Consumption_estimation_Calculation_method: NA

Internal Climate

Temperature

On a floor to floor basis, the internal temperature is adjusted by the users. (There is no set temperature for the whole building.)

Indoor Air Quality

The completely new windows offer optimal thermal and sound protection but in particular they allow to illuminate and aerate the internal spaces in a natural way, which house completely different uses from the original ones.

Daylight

The size of the openings was determined by the existing structure. Structural reasons limited the window size on the 2nd and 3rd floor. On the top floor, the existing structure permitted the larger window size. The floor area is rather small, so the day light is sufficient.

Acoustic Comfort

The interior of the individual floors have been individualy adaped by the users. On one floor, the walls still show the original concrete surface, on another floor the user put clay plaster on the walls. This has an impact on the acoustic comfort. But again, the individual rooms are rather small, and the acoustics are fine.

Artifact Conservation

The top floor can be rented for temporary use. A lot of the interiors have been left as is, for example the inside of the wall is the original concrete surface. The original lamps are in use – with new lamps. (See picture at the end of the document).

Post Occupancy Evaluation

POE-Report was created

Costs

Financial Aspects

The “Amt für Umwelt und Energie Kanton Basel-Stadt“ (Office of Environment and Energy canton Basel-Stadt) and the “Bundesamt für Energie“ (Federal Office of Energy) gave financial support for the coloured PV, BES and monitoring. The project is part of the "2000 watt society - pilot region Basel".

Investment Costs
Total investment costs
Mio CHF (total)
Amount includes: 1.2 Mio, including external Staircase / elevator

Cost of energy related interventions:
CHF (total)
Amount includes: PV about 125’000 CHF / heating 38’000 CHF
Running Costs
Lifecycle cost
No

Environment

Water Management

Through the use of flow restrictors (aquaclick) an attempt is made to reduce the water consumption on the site. Another Measure is the incorporation of waterless urinals. In all suitable places, rainwater is collected for the irrigation of plants and toilet flushes. The unsealing of external surfaces and the roof greening lead to a reduction of the sewage surface fee.

Transport and Mobility

The motorized individual traffic (MIV) and the transit traffic are in the Gundeli a permanent theme. Since in the canton Basel doesn’t fix the minimum number of Parking, but the maximum possible number, Kantensprung AG decided to do the whole area as no parking places, except of two parking spaces for mobility cars, that can be used by all tenants. As well the Kantensprung AG sets available bikes and bike trailer in the frame of the association Mobilo the tenants.