Sustainability and economic viability drove the construction of five apartment buildings on Caerphillystraße. Wohnungsbau Ludwigsburg (WBL) seized the opportunity to develop affordable housing through their proprietary "Fair Housing" model—an ingenious approach that pairs subsidized units with rental and owner-occupied apartments. This hybrid model creates financial flexibility to invest in exceptional architecture, sustainable building practices, and premium finishes. The completed project includes 42 rental apartments, 18 owner-occupied units, and two underground parking facilities.

Beyond meeting KfW 55 standards, WBL was committed to avoiding conventional solid construction with polystyrene-based thermal insulation. Instead, they prioritized ecological integrity and durability in material selection—ensuring the buildings would satisfy the NaWoh quality seal requirements. "As a municipal housing developer, we see our role as advancing sustainable housing practice," explains Achim Eckstein, Project Management Director at WBL.

Tasked with the architectural design, ARP Architekten Partnerschaft Stuttgart systematically evaluated various construction methods—timber, lightweight systems, and thermal insulation brick—against conventional reinforced concrete and limestone masonry with composite insulation. "Brick construction emerged as the clear winner in terms of cost-effectiveness," notes architect Julia Diez. Wienerberger's clay building products proved ideal for meeting the project's demands. The team selected 42.5 cm-thick Poroton S9-P bricks filled with perlite, selected for their superior structural performance and thermal properties. The builders were especially drawn to the internal perlite insulation—a natural volcanic stone that earned the "Blue Angel" certification and promotes a healthy interior climate. "Enhanced acoustic insulation was equally critical to our approach," Diez adds, emphasizing how the certified sound protection enhanced the buildings' overall quality.

These energy-efficient residential towers, built using monolithic brick construction, exemplify the highest standards in ecological, economic, and technical performance. Their achievement earned recognition with the 2020 Quality Seal for Sustainable Housing Construction, plus two additional real estate and architecture awards.

www.wienerberger.com

Photography Credits:

Dietmar Strauß
www.dietmar-strauss.de

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|22)