Frankfurt
© HESS VOLK Architekten PartGmbB
Future-oriented and sustainable
Completed in 2015, the fire station at the northern entrance to the small town of Kenzingen in Breisgau looks like a small landmark. From the outside, the straight-lined building impresses with its cool industrial look and a striking hose and training tower that stretches 23 metres towards the sky. Inside, too, the fire station building has everything that a sustainable municipal building needs. With a net floor area of 1800 m², the 70-metre-long and 22-metre-wide building provides the fire brigade with the best conditions for the training of new firefighters, operations and exercises. Built as a plus-energy house, the fire station has a high insulation standard, a full-surface photovoltaic system, smart building technology and a straightforward, functional architecture. The solid construction of the passive house functions as a heat accumulator and ensures temperature equalisation in the building, which is used sporadically – a model for future-oriented and sustainable municipal infrastructure.
Fire brigade tower receives efficient façade cladding from Baier
The importance of modern sliding shutters in the façade design of municipal buildings is demonstrated by the hose and training tower at the Kenzingen fire station. The challenge during construction: the narrow tower rises six storeys along a concrete staircase. To enable the fire brigade to simulate different situations such as roping down injured people or laying hoses, the building was built without outer walls on one side. Heavy-duty metal railings with vertical braces fixed between each of two outer walls ensure that all exercises can be carried out safely and users cannot be endangered by falling or swinging hoses. When not in use, the façade can be closed manually by sliding shutters made of aluminium by Baier, which are fixed to the concrete façade in front of the metal balustrade.
Contemporary industrial architecture: exposed concrete meets aluminium
The Frankfurt sliding shutter model from Baier is used: it consists of rectangular, extruded aluminium profiles that have been supplemented with horizontal elliptical slats (50 x 13 cm) that are individually screwed to the frame. Due to their fabrication, the louvre design allows good ventilation and lets light into the building. Before installation, all components were given a matt grey powder coating, which makes the surface particularly robust and resistant to corrosion, wind and wear.
Fits! Sliding shutters and escape door in one piece
Two sliding shutters were installed in front of each storey landing – one fixed and one manually movable element that can be easily pushed aside and locked in place if necessary. When open, the sliding shutters form an interesting contrast to the metal railing. When closed, they look like façade cladding, in keeping with the industrial style of the fire station. Even the aluminium door on the ground floor, which serves as an escape door and was also realised by Baier, blends seamlessly into the cool look.
Tip: If desired, trapezoidal, z-shaped or rectangular slats can also be installed in the sliding shutter. Depending on the geometry, this creates an incidence of light of varying intensity.
Sliding shutters ensure safety from the outside and inside
The sliding shutters not only visually match the industrial look of the tower, but also contribute to the safe use of the tower. This is because the manual sashes are moved via an upper and a lower integrated guide rail and can be pushed completely behind the rigid sashes so that they do not obstruct during exercises. Safe guidance of the sliding shutters is made possible by the Olymp sliding shutter fitting, which consists of a running rail, running carriage and associated suspension brackets and stops. When closed, the sliding shutters provide additional protection against falling. A lockable aluminium door (escape route function DIN 179) on the ground floor provides access to the tower and out again, or from the fire station building as an escape route to the outside.
The sliding shutters also prevent unauthorised persons from accessing the tower. A “bolt” that makes this possible is attached to the façade and can only be operated from the inside. Tip: This technology can also be retrofitted to existing sliding shutters from Baier.
Façade cladding rethought – preferably with Baier
Baier offers a wide range of different sliding shutter models that can be an attractive addition to the facades of private houses, apartment buildings or industrial plants. Even before things get concrete, we support builders and architects with competent advice and provide drawings or documents. If you wish, we can look after your project on a customer-specific basis from the planning stage right through to installation. As a façade specialist, we are also happy to take on special or customised designs. Please contact us.
