AAC / Demo Working Group

Architects: Demo Working Group
Area: 125 m²
Year: 2015
Photography: Veit Landwehr
Manufacturers: Havells Sylvania, Jet Gruppe, Krinner, Zublin Timber
Lead Architects: Tim Panzer, Wiebke Schlüter, Matthias Hoffmann, Thorsten Pofahl
Site Management: Jerns Kampermann
City: Aachen
Country: Germany

Atelier AC in Aachen is an example of multifunctional architecture developed on a stringent budget. Designed by the Demo Working Group and completed in 2015, this low-cost teaching facility and community center is nestled in a public park beside a school, enhancing the area’s diverse offerings. The design leverages modest materials and volunteer labor to craft a space that is both sustainable and adaptable, featuring a temporary structure that can be disassembled and relocated, supporting a life span of 5-10 years. This project exemplifies innovative architectural responses to budget constraints while fostering community engagement and educational opportunities.

Atelier AC serves as a low-cost teaching facility and community center, enhancing the existing amenities of a public park adjacent to a school in Aachen. The park’s diverse functions include sports facilities, gardens, rehearsal rooms, and recreational areas. The facility introduces a versatile space that encourages community and educational uses. To adhere to the budget, the architects designed the structure as an adaptable shell, envisioning it as a “permanent intermediate state” that allows for future modifications and expansions.

The primary construction material consists of BSP boards, forming both the structural elements and the interior surfaces, protected from the elements by a foil layer. The building’s façade is a temporary protective layer, safeguarding the valuable structural components beneath. The façade’s simplicity facilitated its construction by a group of young volunteers, under expert supervision, emphasizing the project’s community and educational dimensions. The materials chosen, notably BFU-impregnated pine panels, were selected for their low cost, durability, and potential for reuse, compensating for the building’s relatively short expected lifespan.

As a piece of temporary architecture, Atelier AC was designed with a lifespan of 5-10 years in mind. It rests on screw foundations, allowing for easy dismantling and relocation without permanent land attachments. The inclusion of components like windows, skylights, and lighting fixtures as donations from individuals and manufacturers demonstrates a resourceful approach to construction, integrating readymade elements into the design. The facility operates with minimal technical installations; its use of a portable heater for warmth reflects the sporadic occupancy, negating the need for permanent insulation or a dedicated power supply. Instead, it utilizes a simple connection to a nearby outdoor outlet, emphasizing the building’s flexible and transient nature.