BACHELOR THESIS
PROF.: ACHIM PFEIFFER
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TASK
Renovation and Conversion of an Existing Building into a HipHop Academy.
PERSONAL GOAL
Expressing the Essence of HipHop through Architecture.
The project "Fremdkörper" explores the intriguing intersection between architecture and the pop-cultural movement of HipHop. This involves repurposing an existing building at the Kokerei Hansa in Dortmund into a HipHop Academy for young people. The building in question, initially a machine hall and later a laboratory, was constructed as a steel skeleton structure in the early 20th century. It currently stands empty or is primarily used for storage.
Recent extensive renovation efforts have revitalized the Kokerei Hansa as a public facility. New uses, such as event locations, restaurants, and spaces for the IGA 2027, have been introduced to the old, disused buildings. Although the entire site is under historical protection, this requirement was waived for the purpose of this project.
The current condition of the building is poor compared to others on the site. A partial demolition and subsequent installation of new floor slabs and glass block windows, including differently colored brick parapets, have already made the building stand out as a "Fremdkörper" (foreign body) on the site.
RESULT
A building that shows respect for its existing structure while bringing it to life with new purposes.
ANALYSIS
The project began with a comprehensive analysis of both the topic of HipHop and the existing building, including its structure and functionality. This analysis defined the constructive possibilities for the subsequent development.
HipHop itself can be examined on many different levels due to its worldwide success. However, the essence of HipHop is the principle of disruption.
HipHop disrupts society by questioning societal norms and highlighting injustices. The comparison between the rigid environment in which our building is situated and the society in which HipHop operates reveals an interesting parallel.
The project takes place on the site of the decommissioned Kokerei Hansa in Dortmund, which is now an industrial monument. The coking plant was originally planned and built as one of the first major coking plants in the Ruhr area and follows a consistent aesthetic design principle. Due to this consistent design pattern and the impressive scale of the industrial facility, the object in question stands out with its comparatively small size, the use of differently colored bricks, and the unique use of glass blocks on the site.
Although not all buildings on the site have been renovated yet, this particular building appears especially dilapidated. What was originally a clean, meticulously planned machine hall has been downsized, remodeled, and repurposed as a laboratory over the years.
This transformation is not hidden by the building; instead, it proudly displays it. Externally and internally, the building reveals its history. Inside, the newly installed floor slabs for the laboratories are rather clumsily connected to the existing outer wall, and one can see the crack marks where an interior wall once stood, marking the now-demolished part of the hall.
CONCEPT
DISRUPTION
Through the theme of disruption, HipHop is integrated into the project. This involves balancing the desire for disruption with respect for the existing structure and the concept of preservation.
PRESERVATION
The theme of preservation focuses particularly on the existing facade. The facade tells the story of the building, from its original construction to the demolition of the rear section and its subsequent repurposing.
IMPLEMENTATION
Various disruptions are introduced into the project, categorized into internal and external disruptions. The internal disruptions consist of volumes that house quieter functions such as living, dining, the recording studio, and administrative offices. The external disruption is a necessary second staircase that wraps around the outside of the building, connecting the different old and new areas of the structure.
is to ensure maximum flexibility in space usage. In the second floor, rehearsal rooms are only divided by curtains. In the ground floor, the event space and workshop are connected, with both units separable by folding doors. The workshop can also be further divided into smaller
areas with additional curtains.
This flexibility allows the workshop to be used during events, for example, as a bar area or extended event space.
As a second step in the disruption process, two volumes are inserted into the building. These two volumes are the only areas that will be permanently heated, minimizing the thermal renovation required and reducing the building's energy demand.
These volumes host quieter activities such as sleeping, working, eating, cooking, and working in the recording studio. Both volumes are seamlessly integrated with the new staircase and incorporate the red perforated metal into their design. The larger volume is installed on the existing reinforced concrete framework and is set back from the outer wall by about 1.2 to 1.5 meters, with the floor slabs removed in this intermediate space.
The smaller volume is suspended from the existing trusses of the roof structure, which will need to be reinforced.
As part of the disruption concept, an additional staircase in the form of a walkway is added to the building. This new structure, made from red perforated metal, penetrates the existing facade at only three points, all of which are locations where glass blocks were added later. This ensures a minimally invasive impact on the facade.
The new staircase serves as a necessary egress but also provides access to all floors and functional levels, enabling a new and more interesting circulation within the building. Additionally, the new staircase provides access to the new recording studio, which extends into the event space.
DESIGN
One of the biggest design challenges was determining how the external disruption should look and interact with the existing structure. The guiding principle was to open the existing facade only at the locations of the added glass block windows and parapets for building access. Additionally, a half-meter gap between the existing structure and the new intervention was consistently maintained. All areas needed to be connected through the new staircase, creating a balance between disruption and preservation.
Numerous variants were explored, and the ones shown here are just a few examples.
In the end, the variant shown below was chosen. This design not only allows access to all areas of the building but also treats the existing structure with maximum care. No elements, including railings or the former escape ladder, need to be removed. Thus, the facade is altered only at the points where the staircase connects to the interior.
The way the external disruption, or the new staircase, wraps around the building can be seen in the facade elevation shown below. This illustration highlights how carefully the existing structure is treated, maintaining a consistent gap of about half a meter between the new staircase and the existing facade. The new structure is only anchored at occasional points, ensuring minimal impact on the original building.
Below are the floor plans for all levels.
Ground Floor:
The building is accessed from four points: directly into the club, the workshop, the current main entrance, or the rear entrance to the club. The latter two points also lead directly into the new staircase, from where the other floors can be accessed.
The ground floor houses the club area with a technical storage and unisex toilets, as well as the workshop. Curtains provide flexible room division, allowing the workshop to be used during events by hiding materials behind the curtains. Three folding doors in the existing wall connect the two rooms. Outside, a basketball court will be created on the gravel lot to attract more people to the site and the academy, and this area can also be used for events and concerts.
First Floor:
The first floor features an elevated level in the club area and, above the workshop, the first internal disruption, which includes apartments, the Soul Kitchen, and administrative offices. This volume is built on the existing structural framework, with the space between the exterior wall and the internal disruption being cleared of existing floors and other elements. This creates a house-within-a-house concept, where the new volume is completely thermally isolated from the rest of the building. Access is provided via the existing staircase, the new elevator, or the new external staircase connected by a small bridge. The internal and external disruptions are visually identical, giving the impression that the external disruption extends inward.
Second Floor:
On the second floor, rehearsal rooms are located on the first internal disruption, which can be optionally and temporarily isolated with acoustic and thermal curtains. Additionally, there is the second internal disruption that extends into the club area, housing the recording studio and record storage.
GROUND FLOOR
1ST FLOOR
2ST FLOOR
TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION
To ensure the project is feasible, the technical execution focused on the various "critical points," primarily the new construction elements, examining how they can be connected to the existing structure without compromising the principle of preserving the original facade or leaving the interior without a clear approach.
For the new staircase, or external walkway, the connection is made to the existing steel structure of the building. Various anchor points are identified (see floor plans), where the existing facade will be minimally opened and connected to the steel columns at specific points. These columns will likely need reinforcement. Each anchor point involves two connections, one at the floor level and one at the ceiling level of the external walkway. The recording studio will also be connected to the steel structure, being suspended from the existing trusses above. These trusses will need reinforcement as well. The volume housing the apartments and other facilities will be connected to the existing, retrofitted reinforced concrete framework. A gap of about 1.2 to 1.5 meters will be created between the new facade and the old facade by removing the floor slabs in this area. However, columns, beams, and other parts of the floor structure will remain and serve as a framework for the new volume.
Thermal renovation will only be carried out in the two new internal volumes, with the rehearsal rooms also possibly being heated and acoustically and thermally insulated. However, a series of Molton curtains will be used, as permanent heating of the room is not required due to the various uses and activities that can take place there. Minimizing the thermal zones will reduce construction and operating costs.
To meet the building's energy needs, solar panels can be installed extensively on the roof. These should be lightweight modules, as otherwise, a more comprehensive renovation of the roof structure will be necessary. This could potentially allow the building to be energy self-sufficient.
The thermal renovation of the building focuses on two "quiet" areas: the recording studio and the first floor, where activities such as sleeping, living, working, and eating take place. A thermal envelope is created, starting from the underside of the ground floor ceiling, extending over the new perforated metal facade, and ending at the underside of the first floor ceiling.
The insulation of the undersides of the floor slabs instead of the tops is done for three reasons: visitors tend to look down rather than up, preserving the original floor allows the building's history to be experienced, and fixed installations on the first floor prevent top-side insulation. On the second floor, additional floor insulation would reduce the ceiling height and restrict movement during dance practices.
The insulation ends about 5 cm before the beams to maintain their visibility and the readability of the building's structure. For dance rehearsals on the second floor, mobile sprung floors are used, which can be set up and taken down as needed to prevent injuries.
Additionally, there is a temporary thermal zone on the second floor in the dance rooms. Here, the roof is insulated, and a wall is raised to the height of the roof structure. A gap between the half wall and the fall protection visually isolates the volume. If necessary, Molton curtains can close this gap to acoustically and thermally isolate the area.
4o
Here you can see the structure of the external disruption. The facade is made of red perforated metal, which gives a solid impression from a distance but still allows an outward view from the inside.
The facade of the first internal disruption, specifically the internal disruption on the first floor, is made of the same perforated metal as the new staircase. Behind this layer is a glazing layer, with high-performance insulation in the non-glazed areas. Small bridges facilitate the transition from the staircase to the volume and are located in the intermediate space that has been cleared of floor slabs.
The facade of the recording studio mirrors that of the first internal disruption. However, the entire volume of the recording studio is newly constructed and not built upon any existing structure. Consequently, both the ceiling and the floor are new. The volume is suspended from the overhead trusses, which will be reinforced for this purpose.
RESULT
At the end of the project stands a design that not only preserves and respects the essence of the existing structure but also effectively and meaningfully integrates the theme of HipHop. This design approach acknowledges the building's history and character while introducing new elements that reflect the disruptive and transformative nature of HipHop.
The integration of disruptions, or "foreign bodies," brings a fresh, dynamic element into the building and the surrounding site. These new volumes, carefully inserted into the existing framework, maintain a delicate balance between honoring the past and embracing the future. The use of red perforated metal for the new staircase and internal volumes not only adds a striking visual contrast but also embodies the bold, unapologetic spirit of HipHop.
The new staircase, wrapping around the building, creates a unique circulation path that connects the old and new parts of the structure seamlessly. This thoughtful intervention allows for better functionality and accessibility without compromising the integrity of the original facade. The small bridges connecting the staircase to the internal volumes emphasize the sense of movement and connection, echoing the flow and rhythm inherent in HipHop music.
Inside, the flexible spaces adapt to various uses, from workshops and event spaces to living and working areas. The recording studio and rehearsal rooms, with their advanced acoustic and thermal insulation, provide dedicated spaces for creativity and collaboration, essential to the HipHop culture.
The careful consideration of thermal renovation ensures that energy efficiency is maximized while respecting the building's architectural integrity. The use of mobile sprung floors in the dance rooms and the strategic placement of insulation highlight a practical yet sensitive approach to modernizing the building.
In summary, the project achieves a harmonious blend of preservation and innovation. It respects the historical significance of the Kokerei Hansa while infusing it with the vibrant, disruptive energy of HipHop. This thoughtful integration not only revitalizes the building but also enriches the cultural landscape of the site, creating a space that is both functional and inspiring for future generations.
