Lenzburg: Axa realizes residential project in hybrid design
In Lenzburg, the client Axa is realizing a multi-family house. It is being built using a hybrid construction system developed by the Renggli company and the Bern University of Applied Sciences.
For the house with 20 rental apartments, the individual apartments are prefabricated as room modules by the company Renggli, which specializes in timber construction. Bathrooms, kitchens, doors, windows and coverings have already been installed, and the building services lines have also been moved in, according to a statement from Axa.
Parallel to the production of the modules, the basement was built in Lenzburg and a steel structure was erected. This steel framework as a supporting structure distinguishes the project from previous modular buildings, it continues: Thanks to the supporting structure, loads are transferred through the steel components into the foundation, which enables the construction of taller buildings because the modules are not subjected to additional loads from above. The prefabricated modules are inserted into the steel framework, connected to each other and the building services connected. The apartments are accessed via an arcade with a staircase and elevator tower in front.
The hybrid building system was developed as part of an Innosuisse innovation project. A major advantage is a greatly reduced construction time, and the prefabrication and standardization of the apartments can also significantly reduce the costs per apartment. The construction method is also much easier to calculate than with conventional buildings and allows for staggering, says Max Renggli, CEO of Renggli AG.
Pioneering project in Lenzburg
The construction method is being used for the first time in the "Hello Lenzburg" project. For this purpose, an old Axa property was deconstructed and replaced by the new building using the modular construction method. Three types of apartments will be created: two different 2.5-room and one 3.5-room apartment. According to Axa, the rent for a 3.5-room apartment will be around CHF 1,600 per month. The building will be built to the Minergie-A standard. A photovoltaic system will produce electricity, and heating will be provided by a ground-source heat pump.
"Even as an institutional investor, we want to maintain our affordable housing in the portfolio," says Simon Haus, head of asset management at Axa. Hybrid modular construction offers this opportunity, especially for the renewal of the company's own portfolio. The experience gained from the project in Lenzburg will serve as a basis for further projects. (ah)
