Estate Strategy

4.2 Estate Strategy

To get from the idea of the Sustainability Hub to the reality of an estate a place where people can learn about the different dimensions of sustainability is necessary. To ensure that a large number of activities as mentioned in Chapter 4.1 are possible to perform at the estate, there are required characteristics. In the following, the requirements are separated into two parts. The “minimum requirements” are given as mandatory by Solare Zukunft, which are needed to perform the planned activities. Any “further requirements” are so-called nice to have, which are not mandatory but would be great to see realized. The general aim is that the estate should be appropriate with the given requirements to handle the largest number of named activities.

Minimum requirements: - an office, where “Solare Zukunft” can operate and organize itself from - a classroom, where “Solare Zukunft” and others can hold their teaching activities - a storage room, for equipment from solar cooking to bike cinema - a garden for outdoor activities like solar cooking

Further requirements: - scalability of the building, so other organizations can join the hub - sustainable building with hemp, wood, clay or other sustainable materials

A new building should be only considered if an existing one can not be found since renovating is more sustainable-friendly than building a new one. Since creating a concept for an existing building, which is not known beforehand is burdened by too many uncertainties, only a concept of a new building is examined.

For a simultaneously sustainable and scalable building structure, the "Pixel Facade" system (Figure 5) is especially suitable since it is an adaptive, scalable and repeatable building system that can be applied to various building typologies. Its prefabrication and timber frame construction creates a more economic and sustainable designed building. While the walls of every “pixel” can be for example made out of clay, wood, hemp, glass, or other components, further extensions are quite easy to realize.

Since the “Sustainability Hub” is not only a building but more a building surrounded by an outdoor space the garden could look like the following to enable as many activities as possible.

On the left of Figure 6 the “Pixel Farcade” system with its minimum requirements is realized. The respective pixel color indicates the size of the named rooms. Next below the building - bicycle stands are placed to support visitors coming by bike. The big garden oriented on permaculture gardens leaves enough space for activities like solar cooking, but also covers specific elements like different fruit trees and bushes next to raised garden beds and a pond. The greenhouse an important part completes the permaculture kitchen garden surrounding the “Sustainability Hub” and thus rounds the whole project up.