A daycare centre with a bronze-coloured coat

The Lower Franconian town of Alzenau is known for its vineyards and Alzenau Castle, one of the most important late Gothic buildings in Franconia. Proud of its historical heritage, this tradition-conscious town on the edge of the Spessart hills strives to harmoniously combine the past and the future through responsible and sustainable urban development. Every new construction project is critically examined for its ecological and urban planning added value. This was also the case with the new municipal daycare centre, which was successfully realised by Härtner Architekten from Stuttgart.

Hybrid building for generations

The new daycare centre was not only intended to provide a needs-based meeting place for the youngest members of the community, but also adequate living space for the employees of the nearby hospital. ‘We think it's good when multiple functions are combined, but funding logic, award procedures and the expectations of local decision-makers often prove to be persistent challenges,’ say Theo and Claudia Härtner. This challenge was tailor-made for the architect couple, as they specialise not only in the construction of new daycare centres, primary schools and educational institutions, but also in solution-oriented dialogue and discourse with those responsible.

Die Architekten Claudia und Theo Härtner sitzen strahlend vor einem Architekturmodell. Das Architektenpaar realisiert die Kindertagesstätte in Alzenau, ein zukunftsweisendes Hybridgebäude mit einer Fassade aus PREFA Aluminium. Im Vordergrund des Architekturmodells sind Baumminiaturen zu sehen, die das nachhaltige Gesamtkonzept widerspiegeln. Die Kita in Alzenau kombiniert innovative Architektur mit verantwortungsvoller Stadtentwicklung und zeigt die Vielseitigkeit von PREFA Wandrauten 44 × 44 in Bronze. Die langlebige, wartungsarme und zu 100 % recycelbare Aluminiumfassade verbindet den Wohn- und den Kitabereich optisch zu einer harmonischen Einheit. Das Bild fängt die kreative Energie des Planungsprozesses ein und unterstreicht die ästhetischen und ökologischen Vorteile von PREFA-Produkten.

Suitable for grandchildren thanks to wood and recycled concrete

The architectural design envisaged an L-shaped building complex as a solid recycled concrete construction with a sloping exterior wall, complemented by a staggered storey with six apartments in solid wood construction. In the internal space of the two-storey daycare centre, there are seven group rooms for different age groups plus a multi-purpose room, play areas in the hallway and well-lit and ventilated sanitary facilities. By combining two solid construction methods, a curtain wall aluminium façade and minimal technical equipment, the design meets modern sustainability standards.

The different floor plan geometries and static grids, various pipe routes and the load transfer via the lower floors posed a challenge. The curtain wall aluminium façade made of PREFA rhomboid façade tiles 44 × 44 in bronze was intended to visually combine the different functional areas of the hybrid building into a harmonious whole. ‘When you look at the entire life cycle, PREFA is simply ahead in terms of energy consumption and recyclability,’ says Claudia Härtner, praising the façade system – well aware of the ecological value of resource-saving and climate-active building materials, which is always relevant to the specific location of use.

Die eindrucksvolle Gesamtgestaltung der kommunalen Kindertagesstätte in Alzenau wird auf der Luftaufnahme sichtbar. Das winkelförmige Hybridgebäude ist harmonisch in ein ruhiges Wohnviertel am Rande des Spessarts eingebettet. Die Fassade aus bronzefarbenen PREFA Wandrauten 44 × 44 verleiht dem Baukörper eine markante, hochwertige Optik und betont die moderne Architektur. Begrünte Dachflächen, großzügige Außenanlagen und eine klare Verkehrsführung unterstreichen das nachhaltige Gesamtkonzept. Die Kombination aus langlebigem Aluminium, Holz und Recyclingbeton erfüllt höchste ökologische Standards. Diese Perspektive hebt die durchdachte städtebauliche Integration und den multifunktionalen Charakter des Gebäudes hervor – ein zukunftsweisendes Projekt für Bildung, Wohnen und Nachhaltigkeit.

Craftsmanship made in Franconia

The bronze-coloured aluminium cladding was installed around the building by Spenglerei ASA Schüßler. This long-established Franconian company has now successfully completed its second PREFARENZEN project in Alzenau. Around 3,500 of the 44 × 44 centimetre PREFA rhomboid façade tiles in bronze were installed for the hybrid building – each individually concealed with PREFA grooved nails on the fully supported wooden substrate. The numerous building corners and reveals are fitted with channel profiles and standard corner brackets.

This required a delicate touch and expertise. For project manager Marcel Schmidt and operations manager Siegmar Fried, the challenges lay particularly in the critical points where the small roof areas of the bay windows taper off to nothing and merge into the façade. Their rhomboid façade tiles meet PREFALZ standing seam metal sheets. These metal sheets had to be installed in such a way that natural water drainage was ensured and at the same time the result was visually appealing.

Selbstbewusst und freundlich steht Projektleiter Marcel Schmidt von der Spenglerei ASA Schüßler vor einer eindrucksvollen Wand aus unterschiedlich geformten Aluminiumelementen. Die dynamisch arrangierten Metallplatten spiegeln das Licht effektvoll wider und symbolisieren Innovation, Präzision und Qualität in der Metallverarbeitung. Der Mann im weißen Hemd verkörpert Kompetenz und moderne Fertigungsexzellenz. Im Hintergrund wird die vielfältige Verarbeitungsmöglichkeit von Aluminium sichtbar – von Dach- und Fassadensystemen bis hin zu maßgefertigten Sonderlösungen.

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