Student accommodation in Mannheim, Germany

This new students’ residence is situated on a main arterial route close to Mannheim city centre and was designed and built with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. The building features students’ rooms, communal kitchens, shared living and recreation spaces, and a large roof terrace.

The upper storeys are solid timber constructions, and most of the rest of the building also employs timber construction. The extensive use of pre-fabricated building components and the overall standardisation of the apartments help to keep on-site labour requirements to a minimum and also save on material costs, which have been rising in recent times.

As a result of the deliberate focus on energy-saving design and construction, this project fulfils the requirements of the demanding German KfW 40 standard. The building is connected to Mannheim’s district heating grid, which means that the students will benefit from lower heating costs.

Completion: Planned for 2024
Construction period: Approx. 3.5 years
Total floor area: Approx. 3000 m² (33,000 sq.ft.)
Construction method: Upper storeys in solid timber construction
Architects: Friedmann Architektur GbR, Mannheim
Timber frame construction contractor: Elsässer GmbH & Co.KG, Holzbauwerte, Mannheim

Artist’s impression of the building

The ground floor will host commercial units such as cafés and offices.

Each apartment is furnished with custom-chosen furniture.

Common kitchen and dining area

Drawings

Floor plan

Front view from the street

Cross-section of the building

Impressions of the construction work

SOLITEX ADHERO 1000 initially protects timber components against weathering during the construction phase, but also remains in place permanently as part of the airtightness layer.