Total contractor project: Conversion of Haus am Schlossberg
May 11, 2020
Historic property gets a modern interior
The conversion and new construction work on the "Haus am Schlossberg" on the Grimmer property in Laufen is underway. The project was developed and optimized by ERNE plus together with the client and architects.
The historic Grimmer property in the old town of Laufenburg is being renovated, converted and partially repurposed. The existing 15th century building will be stripped back to its supporting structure. The old façade will be retained out of consideration for the townscape and the preservation of historical monuments. Modern premises for the new regional civil registry office will be created on the first floor. The wedding room will be designed with large, floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the Grimmermatte and will have direct access to the outside area. A new pavilion, which will be connected to the main building by a corridor, will serve as a spacious entrance area with a checkroom. The central part of the property will house five 3.5-room and two 2.5-room apartments as well as a guest house. The guest house with eight double rooms with shower, WC and small kitchenette will provide additional accommodation in Laufenburg.
Experience favors an optimal construction project
The development of the project was carried out together with the client - the local community of Laufenburg, the architects Wyss + Santos from Basel - and ERNE plus GU/TU. Thanks to the expertise and experience of those involved in similar projects, an optimal solution was found that also met the client's requirements in terms of cost. The construction work is now underway. The building installation took place in May, after which the demolition work began. The premises have been renovated and converted since the summer. The requirements and conditions of the historical building fabric presented a number of challenges.
Remediation of harmful substances with suction excavators
Before the actual deconstruction could begin, old, harmful materials had to be removed. Contaminated vinyl flooring in the building was professionally removed by the specialists from ERNE decon Schadstoffsanierung. The blast furnace slag - formerly a building material, now a waste product - was extracted from the old concrete ceilings with the help of the ERNE-FANT suction excavator team. All materials were disposed of in accordance with regulations. The gutting team then removed all non-load-bearing interior walls, underlay floors, the kitchen, bathrooms and the old facing formwork.
Breakthrough through solid quarry stone masonry
For the conversion of the old building, the existing solid quarry stone masonry also had to be partially broken through. This was not an easy task, as old quarry stone masonry is unpredictable and large chunks could break out, making a clean cut impossible. However, theconversion team mastered this situation brilliantly. The specialists from ERNE Drilling and Cutting were able to use the wall saw to remove the remaining parts with clean cuts. In addition, individual door openings were enlarged to create more open living spaces. The old balcony and the floor slab of the passageway between the garage and the house were cut away with a Brokk demolition robot. The building was completely gutted, leaving only the load-bearing structure and the façade intact. After laying new underground pipes for the sewage system and leveling the floor slab, the actual renovation and new construction work could begin.
Condition: wheelchair-accessible, energy-efficient renovation and preservation of the historical substance
The converted residential building and the registry office must be wheelchair accessible in the future. It was therefore necessary to create space for a lift in the old building. Large openings were cut out of the existing concrete ceilings on each floor of the old building using a wall saw in order to accommodate the lift shaft. Once the large concrete elements had been lifted out over the previously opened roof using a crane, the lift shaft could be formed, reinforced and concreted. In addition, some steps had to be cut away and ramps created to ensure access.
Historic character of the building retained
The historic exterior façade was to be retained and was therefore only slightly repaired and repainted. New interior and exterior doors and windows with triple glazing were installed so that the energy requirements for a modern building could be met. The white wooden-framed windows were designed with the same glazing bars as the historical original in order to preserve the character of the building. The pitched roof was rebuilt by Husner AG Holzbau. The roof was stripped, stripped back to the rafters and then newly insulated, fitted with edge battens and covered with plain tiles.
High quality and good coordination
The construction work for this total contractor order is being closely supervised by ERNEplus project manager Renzo Del Carlo. He ensures that the quality required by the client is implemented and coordinates all the trades involved in the construction. Thanks to the wide range of services and high performance of the ERNE construction company and the consideration of the regional trade, the construction was completed in the shortest possible time. Handover to the client took place in spring 2020 and the apartments were scheduled to be let for the first time in June 2020. The residents of the "Haus am Schlossberg", civil registrars and future wedding couples can look forward to modern premises with a beautiful ambience.
Facts about the construction site
Object | Renovation / conversion of the Grimmer property into the Haus am Schlossberg |
Services | Total contractor contract, pollutant clean-up, gutting, conversion and renovation, new pavilion construction |
Construction time | Execution May 2019 to May 2020 |
Project participants ERNE | Project manager: Renzo Del Carlo, Site manager: Walter Zwahlen Leonard Alexander Imhof Carrillo, Foreman: Marc Zumpe |
