Stuttgart 210 II

An interdisciplinary research team from the universities of Konstanz, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe is investigating possible solutions for the reuse of formwork elements in the new Stuttgart main station as high-quality components as part of the research project “Stuttgart 210 weiterdenken - weiterbauen!” solutions for the reuse of formwork elements from the new Stuttgart Central Station as high-quality components. The project is funded by the Ministry for Rural Areas and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg (MLR) through the timber construction campaign. ProHolz Baden-Württemberg is responsible for public relations and coordination. ZÜBLIN Timber, which produced the formwork elements, is supporting the research project as a practice partner by providing the digital joinery plans.

A team of architects and engineers from the universities of Constance, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, together with proHolz Baden-Württemberg, have set themselves the task of giving the concrete formwork on the construction site of the new main railway station in Stuttgart a new purpose: As part of the research project “Stuttgart 210: think ahead – continue building!”, possibilities for reusing the concrete formwork are being investigated and implemented as part of various living labs.

The research project is investigating the direct reuse of the available formwork elements for suitable applications on the one hand and the adaptation of the elements to largely rectangular and flat, bar-shaped and planar geometries for everyday construction tasks on the other.

Functional, design, constructional and structural planning options are determined for various designs, a life cycle assessment procedure for re-use building components is developed and the necessary legal framework conditions for 1:1 applications are researched. In addition to generalizable findings on the circular use of components, one of the objectives of the Stuttgart 210 research project is the preparation of living labs in which test buildings are erected from the formwork elements, because only in the context of a concrete 1:1 application can the decisive experience be gained and the relevance of the research project be tested.

As test rooms for innovation and regulation, living labs make it possible to test innovative technologies, products, services or approaches under real conditions, that are only partially compatible with the existing legal and regulatory framework. The results of such experimental spaces, which are often limited in time and space, provide the basis for the evidence-based further development of the legal framework. Experimental clauses are often the legal basis.  As part of the research project, basic research and parts of the design planning will be carried out and the legal framework for the experimental procedure will be determined.

The results of the research project and the living labs will be presented to the public in December in an exhibition at the StadtPalais Stuttgart and documented in a small publication.

The exhibition and publication are part of the “Stuttgart 210 II” research project.