Halle S // 46
Located in the industrial and commercial development area to the east of Altenkirchen in the Westerwald region, the Graf-Zeppelin Hallen complex, commissioned by Schumann Project GmbH, is currently under construction. Designed by Aretz Dürr Architects, Halle S // 46 serves as its landmark starting point. With its unadorned, untreated structural design, the building harmoniously integrates into the surrounding environment, narrating a story of sustainability, simplicity, durability, and practicality.
Halle S // 46 functions as a furniture production facility and logistics warehouse. The Aretz Dürr team based the design on a natural timber structure, creating a commercial building that embodies craftsmanship and sustainability. Its minimalist exterior is defined by clean lines, with the north and south façades clad in semi-transparent polycarbonate panels that allow natural light to illuminate the 60-meter-long interior. The cantilevered roof extends outward on the east and west sides, forming overhangs that, in combination with the building's orientation and material selection, significantly reduce energy dependency while fostering visual harmony with the environment.
The building’s lightweight rectangular form is visually streamlined and modular, allowing it to be divided into four units. The north and south façades consist of ten evenly proportioned sections, while the east and west façades feature four equally spaced sectional doors, providing flexibility for future business expansion. With a total usable area of approximately 3,000 square meters, the design accommodates potential growth. Internally, the structure utilizes 40-meter-long glulam (glue-laminated timber) beams for its beam-column system, with a center-to-center spacing of 6 meters. This configuration provides stable support and maintains a spacious interior layout, enabling a free span of 24 meters. The orderly arrangement of the beams is carefully designed to evenly distribute loads and reduce localized stress concentrations. The roof is covered with corrugated steel sheets and incorporates smoke and heat exhaust ventilation (SHEV) systems to ensure effective load management and ventilation. Halle S // 46 adheres to the principles of simplicity, employing basic yet effective joining and assembly techniques, such as mortise-and-tenon joints or bolted connections. This approach minimizes reliance on complex and highly technical processes, avoiding the need for specialized equipment. Instead, it reverts to essential functional needs while emphasizing a deep respect for architecture, the environment, and sustainable development.
Principal Designer(s) | Sven Aretz, Jakob Dürr
Lead Architects | Sven Aretz, Jakob Dürr, Ben Schumann
Area | 3,000 sqm
Location | Altenkirchen, Germany
