This project is distinguished by its commitment to recyclability and has been recognized as a flagship initiative of the Baden-Württemberg housing campaign. Subsidized for its sustainable design, it adheres to circularity principles, emphasizing varietal purity to ensure materials can be reused or recycled without compromising their original quality. The careful selection of materials avoids mixing different groups, preventing downcycling and preserving the integrity of raw materials.

A key aspect of the project is its focus on urban mining, utilizing existing city resources. Components like floors, door leaves and fittings salvaged from a nearby building slated for demolition are refurbished and repurposed for the garage extensions, showcasing effective resource conservation. This approach decreases waste and emphasizes utilizing already owned materials.

By employing detachable connections and non-toxic natural materials, the project prioritizes health and ecological sustainability. The integration of reused components exemplifies efficient resource use and a dedication to 100% recyclable materials. Ultimately, the garage extensions in Karlsruhe Rintheim represent a forward-thinking model of urban densification, social integration and environmental responsibility.

The garage extension project was conceptualized by Falk Schneemann, who initiated its development by participating in an ideas competition. Though the project’s initial feasibility was uncertain, the competition attracted a client who commissioned further feasibility studies. During planning, the project received a grant from the state of Baden-Württemberg for its innovative approach, enabling the design to incorporate relocatable and circular timber construction principles.

Falk Schneemann, founder of Falk Schneemann Architektur, has a diverse background. Initially trained as a carpenter, he studied architecture at Stuttgart and Delft. His professional experience includes roles at notable firms like Benthem Crouwel in Amsterdam, Foster + Partners in London and Berlin, and Herzog & de Meuron in Basel. In 2013, he joined Ludwig Wappner’s Chair of Building Construction at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he teaches and conducts research. He founded his practice in 2017 and completed his doctorate in 2019, emphasizing the intrinsic link between design and construction.

Katharina Blümke, a KIT graduate, has worked at the firm since 2020 and is affiliated with KIT’s Chair of Sustainable Building, enhancing the team’s focus on circular justice. Jona Thiele, an architecture student at KIT, has contributed significantly to the office for the past two years.

The small team is committed to addressing social, ecological, and economic inequalities, they leverage their collective strengths to drive meaningful societal change and foster an environment of freedom and trust within their architecture practice.

The prize money will fund Tiny Tower, a research design project that reinterprets the high-rise building type into a wooden structure with a minimal footprint and a moderate height, containing one or two micro-apartments for student housing. The design will be showcased on three university campuses in Germany.

Tiny Tower aims to expand the principles of garage extensions to a larger scale, focusing on creating living spaces, resource-efficient construction and exemplary processes. This initiative seeks to elevate an existing project idea into a model that can inspire further developments like the garage extensions.

- Information for the project text was provided by Falk Schneemann Architektur FSA -