Building the city anew
The IBA Hamburg, an international exhibition on architecture, building and infrastructure, opens on March 23. This year's presentation looks at the futuristic transformation of a formerly run-down harbor area.
Energy bunker
The IBA, an international exhibition on architecture and infrastructure opening on March 23, highlights a rather neglected neighborhood of Hamburg: Wilhelmsburg. The show isn't just about presenting beautiful houses, but also about architectural responses to climate change. This so-called energy bunker supplies a nearby district with green energy.
Creating clean energy
This former flak bunker from World War II was redesigned for this year's IBA. The 42-meter (138-foot) structure contains a biomass combined heat and power plant. Solar energy is generated via panels on its room and south facade. The bunker produces enough energy for 800 apartments.
Self-sufficiency
The so-called Open House was built on 5,600 square meters of disused commercial space. Located near a canal, the Y-shaped complex is comprised of 32 subsidized apartments and eight private homes. Energy is supplied to the residences via a block heating station and photovoltaic facility. The modern structure is intended to contrast with the Wilhelminian style houses on the street.
Bringing nature inside
The conspicuous Wälderhaus (Forest House), made of larch wood, is just a short walk from the Wilhelmsburg tram station. Visitors can discover the northern German forests and everything that lives in them within the house's 650 square meters. Microscopes are on hand to examine the regional plants in detail. The Wälderhaus also includes event rooms, a hotel and a restaurant.
The gateway to education
The largest building project at IBA Hamburg is the Gateway to the World. Education is another key topic at this year's exhibition. Three schools, a parents' café, a preschool, an adult learning center and a planetarium are all included on the 20,000-square-meter campus, where old and new buildings stand side-by-side. Glass was used in the new portions to create a sense of transparency.
Opportunities to learn
The Gateway to the World education center, scheduled to open in May, is urgently necessary in Hamburg. A number of educational institutions in Wilhelmsburg recently drew attention to the earnest situation of underprivileged children in that neighborhood. The IBA project is intended to provide equal opportunities.
Move and speak
The Center of Language and Exercise plays a special role at the IBA. On the ground floor, children can play in a gym. On the first floor, rooms are available for small-group lessons. Sixty percent of the residents of Wilhelmsburg are not native German speakers. Combining exercise and language courses is an innovative way to improve the residents' communication skills.
Care for those who need it
The majority of Wilhelmsburg residents have a non-German background. Many came as guest workers and stayed. In the future, immigrants suffering from dementia or those who need special care will be able to reside at the Veringeck House. Under the title "Cosmopolis," the IBA 2013 focuses on the multicultural dynamic in modern cities.
Relax and enjoy
The Veringeck House will include a hamam, a traditional Turkish steam bath. It's the third of its kind in Hamburg, but the first in the Wilhelmsburg district. The bath, along with a café in the house, will be available to all Wilhelmsburg residents. Bringing different people together and encouraging exchange is the aim of the project.
Living on water
It looks like they're floating. The WaterHouses, which should be completed soon, represent the IBA's third focus: metrozones. That refers to the space between the city and the countryside. All five WaterHouses are equipped with geothermal heat pumps so they can self-sufficiently cover their own heating needs.