# Sweet historic German water tower turned into house **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [October 1, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754 "2007-10-01T20:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![civicexcoupeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@civicexcoupeman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/civicexcoupeman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/1 "2007-10-01T20:12:28Z")
![http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturmumbau22.jpg](http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturmumbau22.jpg) 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](http://www.madako.de/en/index.php) 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. ![http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wassertum_08.jpg](http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wassertum_08.jpg) 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](http://www.madako.de/)** **[Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz](http://www.denkmalschutz.de/home.html?&L=2)** Photos © copyright by [krischerfotografie.de](http://www.krischerfotografie.de/) ‘Denkmalschutz’ = monument protection ‘Landschaftschutzgebiet’ = landscape protection area ![http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_07.jpg](http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_07.jpg) ![http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_09.jpg](http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_09.jpg) ![http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_03.jpg](http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_03.jpg) ![http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_01.jpg](http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/wasserturm_01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beat90tsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@beat90tsi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/beat90tsi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/2 "2007-10-01T20:25:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![civicexcoupeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@civicexcoupeman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/civicexcoupeman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/3 "2007-10-01T20:29:22Z")
> [@FS: 95 Boosted Del Sol VTEC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-95-boosted-del-sol-vtec/32772/14): > > 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: ---
**Author:** ![Pewter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pewter/32/5936_2.png) [@Pewter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pewter)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/4 "2007-10-02T04:47:55Z")
awesome ---
**Author:** ![Zack01GC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zack01GC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zack01GC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 4:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/5 "2007-10-02T04:55:10Z")
That is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![4doors5gears](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/4doors5gears/32/6006_2.png) [@4doors5gears](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/4doors5gears)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/6 "2007-10-02T05:07:10Z")
Sweet ---
**Author:** ![BlkP42E](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blkp42e/32/5938_2.png) [@BlkP42E](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BlkP42E)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/7 "2007-10-02T05:39:59Z")
ill take 2 ---
**Author:** ![JackdUp](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jackdup/32/6015_2.png) [@JackdUp](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JackdUp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/8 "2007-10-02T06:13:05Z")
Nice find. obi-1 and bgblockelcamino always thought I’d buy and convert a missle silo…but this would be way cooler! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![obi-1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@obi-1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/obi-1)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/9 "2007-10-02T06:16:10Z")
That’s awesome. I’m going to Cologne next month, about 45 minutes from there. Might actually be able to check that out… ---
**Author:** ![dyingwish](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dyingwish/32/6041_2.png) [@dyingwish](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dyingwish)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/10 "2007-10-02T06:16:54Z")
> [@Went to the track tonight, new best times](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/went-to-the-track-tonight-new-best-times/32716/31): > > Nice find. obi-1 and bgblockelcamino always thought I’d buy and convert a missle silo…but this would be way cooler! 😃 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. ---
**Author:** ![civicexcoupeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@civicexcoupeman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/civicexcoupeman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 9:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/11 "2007-10-02T09:11:23Z")
thats fucken sweet id rock that…check these out too Here we go, there’s a show called [“Grand Designs”.](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-designs/houses/index_archive_t.html) Here’s one with a water tower: ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/ashford_grb_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/ashford_grb_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/ashford_grb6_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/ashford_grb6_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/ashford_grb5_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/ashford_grb5_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd_killearn_dining_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd_killearn_dining_lg.jpg) This was my favourite, this place was simply HUGE. ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/chester_front_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/chester_front_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/chester_lounge_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/chester_lounge_lg.jpg) Here’s the ultimate…15th Century Castle. ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york1_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york1_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york9_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york9_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york12_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york12_lg.jpg) ![http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york13_lg.jpg](http://www.channel4.com/4homes/media/O/ontv/grand-designs/large/gd07_york13_lg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JackdUp](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jackdup/32/6015_2.png) [@JackdUp](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JackdUp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 9:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/12 "2007-10-02T09:33:27Z")
Arrow slits and parapets FTMFW!!! ---
**Author:** ![dyingwish](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dyingwish/32/6041_2.png) [@dyingwish](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dyingwish)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 9:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/sweet-historic-german-water-tower-turned-into-house/192754/13 "2007-10-02T09:51:57Z")
damn, i’d at least have some tights-wearing archers staked out on the roof. That is pretty badass