There is a natural connection between sustainable design and historic preservation, one that is often overlooked. Building reuse and adaptation easily lend themselves to the ideals of green building, like lower embodied energy, longevity and cultural significance that promotes engaged users. In Essen, Germany, Architects from the Madako group have transformed an historic water tower into an imaginative space for living and working that showcases a fusion of old and new with lasting environmental considerations.
In its initial form, the Umbau Wasserturm (converted water tower) in Essen-Bredeney stood untouched under Germany’s ‘Denkmalschutz’ and ’Landschaftschutzgebiet’ - historic building protection and culturally significant landscape protection. These two designations prevented demolition and maintained the water tower as part of the heritage landscape. The potential of the structure remained untapped until 2002. Then, with little alteration to the exterior, the water tower was transformed into an eight-story, multi-use building. The ground level space serves as an office and the lofty top level unit offers conference space with views of the surrounding natural landscape.
Three two-story apartments welcome the sun with open, flowing floor plans and high ceilings. Natural daylighting, thermal mass and convective cooling are inherent building technologies that translate to the structure’s new functions.
The embodied energy in existing materials has been diluted through an extension of the structure’s viability. Through reuse and adaptation the cost of demolition, trucking and land filling debris, the manufacturing, transport and installation of new structural materials has been eliminated. The result is a quiet lesson in “stealth green” - reuse brings both ecological and cultural advantages.
Madako Architects
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
Photos © copyright by krischerfotografie.de
‘Denkmalschutz’ = monument protection
‘Landschaftschutzgebiet’ = landscape protection area
Call me crazy, but I like concrete and I would totally live in that thing. I would need a garage nearby, or to convert that bottom section into one.
na dude your not crazy that shit is awesome. Id rock it :bigthumb:
awesome
That is awesome.
Sweet
ill take 2
Nice find. obi-1 and bgblockelcamino always thought I’d buy and convert a missle silo…but this would be way cooler! 
That’s awesome. I’m going to Cologne next month, about 45 minutes from there. Might actually be able to check that out…
I dunno man, a missle silo? That would be the pinnacle of bad-ass-ness. This place seems a little too austere and cold to be home. It looks like some architect’s showpiece and nowhere to live.
thats fucken sweet id rock that…check these out too
Here we go, there’s a show called “Grand Designs”.
Here’s one with a water tower:
This was my favourite, this place was simply HUGE.
Here’s the ultimate…15th Century Castle.
Arrow slits and parapets FTMFW!!!
damn, i’d at least have some tights-wearing archers staked out on the roof. That is pretty badass