New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Project category

Identify the award category for which this project is being submitted
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking

Email user
gh@gfka.net

Basic information
Project title
FUTURE HOME

Full Project Title
FUTURE HOME — living for tomorrow

Please provide a short, catchy description of your project to be used in communication towards the public.
The construction and building sector is closely linked to the challenges of other transformation areas. The requirements for sustainable construction include energy efficiency and climate neutrality, preservation of biodiversity, conservation of resources and use of renewable raw materials, sustainable procurement of products and services including compliance with human rights in the supply chain. All these requirements must be addressed. With these aims in mind, the FUTURE HOME developed.

What was the geographical scope of your project?
National

Where was your project implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Germany

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
Free State of Saxony

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?
Mainly urban

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your project won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Is your project fully completed
Yes

Please indicate a date (mm/yy)
2022-05-01

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As an individual in partnership with other persons
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project).
- First name: Jürgen
  Last name: Breitmayer
  Gender: Male
  Nationality: Germany
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Schnorrstraße 70
  Town: Dresden
  Postal code: 01069
  Country: Germany
  Direct Tel: +49 351 21471690
  E-mail: j.breitmayer@h-e-gmbh.com
  Website: https://www.h-e-gmbh.com
- First name: Gerald
  Last name: Höfer
  Gender: Male
  Nationality: Germany
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Mühlstraße 1
  Town: Kyffhäuserland
  Postal code: 99707
  Country: Germany
  Direct Tel: +49 163 7969966
  E-mail: gh@gfka.net
  Website: https://www.gfka.net
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.h-e-gmbh.com
In case my project is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my project in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Word of mouth (colleagues, friends ...)

Description of the project
Please provide a summary of your project.
FUTURE HOME: For all those who want to build, work and live sustainably.

With the FUTURE HOME buildings you build individually and adaptably i.e. new buildings, conversions and changes of use are now possible quickly and economically.

Economic efficiency
The well thought-out concept and automated processes reduce the planning effort and shorten the building permit procedure. Assembly times, supervision and coordination can be reduced to a minimum on the construction site through efficient pre-production. Labor costs are reduced and overall construction time is cut by up to 60% compared with other construction methods. Shorter construction time, in turn, means lower costs for the owner/builder in terms of financing and site set-up. Schedules can be consistently met thanks to scheduled production that is independent of weather conditions. Series production makes individual components more cost-effective. Highest accuracy and consistent quality are thus guaranteed.

Advantages on the construction site
Moving many construction processes to production halls causes less environmental impact, offers greater efficiency even in bad weather, and improves construction execution. In addition, large areas for storing building materials are not required, as the prefabricated elements are assembled immediately after delivery to the construction site. This has the positive effect that local residents are exposed to less construction noise, dirt or vibrations.
Our building type is ideal for properties in residential, commercial or mixed-use areas. The novel carbon concrete, the wood hybrid construction method and innovative further development of the assembly method with a high degree of prefabrication reduced the construction time, the necessary truck trips as well as noise and dust.

FUTURE HOME is suitable as a building for complicated sites, such as industrial sites, and brownfields and on railroad or traffic roads, due to the noise protection values.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.
Flexible in location, business and target group

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Sustainability

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Circularity

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Inclusive society

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Carbon–Concrete–Timber Construction

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The FUTURE HOME exhibits a high degree of sustainability. The special feature is that technical sustainability, material selection, logistics concept and social sustainability interact through flexibility of the residents and are convincing precisely in this interaction.

The participation principle ensures a high level of identification with the project and a high level of social commitment through the involvement of residents as early as the planning phase.

The decision to use the timber construction method (and not the conventional reinforced concrete) was made very consciously. The technical, structural sustainability results from the timber construction method, which saves and binds CO2. Only the high degree of prefabrication and the timber hybrid construction (e.g. of the wall-ceiling elements, ceilings) can save truck trips and shorten the construction time. Wooden construction also improves the living climate itself, so it has a positive effect on the human physiological level.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The wooden structure can be made visible and consistent from afar through the facade.

Wood in the city — the material is anything but commonplace in urban spaces. Wood stands for liveliness and warmth in the cityscape. It stands out that something is different, it is interesting and attracts passers-by.

Carbon–Concrete was developed together with building and construction specialists. It represents an innovation and serves as a replacement and lighter alternative to reinforced concrete.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
Our thinking is holistic!

Nearly climate-neutral building and at the same time creating new living or working space quickly and relatively inexpensively? Is that even possible? A clear yes, if you rethink and focus more on serial, modular building solutions in the future instead of continuing to build more conventionally.

With the FUTURE HOME concept, buildings with several floors can be realized that are architecturally appealing, of high quality and extremely flexible in use. We rely on a hybrid construction method in which the building materials steel or, in the future, carbon, wood and concrete are combined in a sensible way. The resulting buildings meet all the criteria and requirements of modern and sustainable real estate. In our opinion, buildings are sustainable if they have as little impact as possible on people and nature over the period of their construction and use, right through to their deconstruction and the disposal of materials.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project
FUTURE HOME faces many global challenges on a local level: The innovative timber construction sets new standards, as does efficient heat generation. Communication technology is planned as modularly as heating and ventilation. In practical implementation, the project deals with the affordability of housing and the future of our living.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the project. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was.
The high flexibility in combining the modules allows for diversity in use. This can range from single-family homes to retirement, employee homes to office buildings, all of which benefit from the energy-efficient resource-saving properties. Participatory, inclusive community concepts are anticipated and included in the flexible design.

All these subject areas were and are, of course, designed together and in their context. Without this requirement, a flexible product like FUTURE HOME would not have been possible.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your project. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was.
Our buildings are erected in concrete skeleton construction from prefabricated concrete elements. The exterior and interior walls consist of timber frame walls, which are also prefabricated. In addition to the renewable raw material wood, carbon concrete will be used for the construction in the future instead of reinforced concrete.

The high level of prefabrication of the components – including power and communication cables, water and wastewater pipes – in factory halls enables production that is independent of weather conditions. Assembly and final installation can therefore always be carried out with consistently high quality. Potential errors are reduced to a minimum.

Our buildings meet all the technical requirements of an efficiency house 40 Plus or 40 NH (sustainability class) and are comprehensively eligible for subsidies. Our energy concept is characterized by a highly thermally insulated building envelope and sophisticated technology with energy-saving lighting, novel storage systems and the use of renewable energies.

Thanks to the modular design, multi-storey buildings with a high level of living comfort and multi-functionality can be realized. The buildings can be adapted to changing types of use without major structural effort.

Thanks to the innovative wood frame construction, extremely high sound and fire protection and excellent thermal insulation are achieved. Carbon is six times stronger than steel and does not rust. This saves concrete, which is needed to protect the steel from corrosion. The thinner-walled construction thus made possible means that more usable space is gained and material is saved.

Due to the high degree of prefabrication, the final completion at the destination takes little time and requires little scope. Cost and schedule certainty as well as quality can thus be guaranteed - at the same time, the time required by architects and planners on site is very low.

Please give information on the results, outcomes and impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for. This includes also benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries
From a technical perspective, the development of FUTURE HOME was a building block to make wood hybrid structures and TGA modules marketable and mainstream.
The other companies involved in FUTURE HOME (timber construction companies, structural and building services planners, structural engineers, carbon concrete manufacturers, TU Dresden, etc.) have also contributed their experience to the innovative product.
Buildings are durable goods. Planning and investment decisions in the construction and building sector have an impact on society, the economy and the environment over many decades. Therefore, in addition to climate change and changing user requirements are of particular importance in the construction and building sector. With FUTURE HOME, Handels- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Dresden has developed a product for the construction industry that meets the requirements of sustainability, both in ecological and in economic and social terms. At the same time, basic principles for sustainable construction are already available. With the innovative building product FUTURE HOME and groundbreaking construction methods, sustainable building is already being implemented in the practice of planning, constructing and operating buildings and structural facilities. FUTURE HOME scaling the individual modules, e.g. with micro-apartments. Sustainable housing is now affordable for all social groups. The use of renewable resources and the greatest possible avoidance of petroleum-based plastics contribute to the low ecological footprint, as does the reduction of transportation and land consumption.
New methods of electricity generation such as solar systems and energy storage and resource-saving lighting are used, as are the latest heat generation technologies.
The lightweight construction of the modules makes it easier to add to the existing building stock; concrete and wood components are fed into the recycling system at the end of their life cycle and can thus be reused.

Please provide documents showing the results, outcomes and impacts of your project
Web link
Web link
- https://www.h-e-gmbh.com
Please highlight the innovative character of the project, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the project
Our building type is ideal for properties in residential, commercial or mixed-use areas. The novel carbon concrete, the wood hybrid construction method and innovative further development of the assembly method with a high degree of prefabrication reduced the construction time, the necessary truck trips as well as noise and dust.

Moving many construction processes to production halls causes less environmental impact, offers greater efficiency even in bad weather, and improves construction execution. In addition, large areas for storing building materials are not required, as the prefabricated elements are assembled immediately after delivery to the construction site. This has the positive effect that local residents are exposed to less construction noise, dirt or vibrations.

FUTURE HOME is suitable as a building for complicated sites, such as industrial sites, and brownfields and on railroad or traffic roads, due to the noise protection values.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your project.
The decision to use the timber construction method (and not the conventional reinforced concrete) was made very consciously. The technical, structural sustainability results from the timber construction method, which saves and binds CO2. Only the high degree of prefabrication and the timber hybrid construction (e.g. of the wall-ceiling elements, ceilings) can save truck trips and shorten the construction time. Wooden construction also improves the living climate itself, so it has a positive effect on the human physiological level.

With the innovative building product FUTURE HOME and groundbreaking construction methods, sustainable building is already being implemented in the practice of planning, constructing and operating buildings and structural facilities. FUTURE HOME takes into account the requirements of Europe's demographic development by scaling the individual modules. Sustainable housing is now affordable for all social groups.

The well thought-out concept and automated processes reduce the planning effort and shorten the building permit procedure. Assembly times, supervision and coordination can be reduced to a minimum on the construction site through efficient pre-production. Labor costs are reduced and overall construction time is cut by up to 60% compared with other construction methods. Shorter construction time, in turn, means lower costs for the owner/builder in terms of financing and site set-up. Schedules can be consistently met thanks to scheduled production that is independent of weather conditions. Series production makes individual components more cost-effective. Highest accuracy and consistent quality are thus guaranteed.

Please describe which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and context. This may involve for example aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings etc.
FUTURE HOME is suitable as a building for complicated sites, such as industrial sites, and brownfields and on railroad or traffic roads, due to the noise protection values.

The construction type is ideal for properties in residential, commercial or mixed-use areas. The novel carbon concrete, the wood hybrid construction method and innovative further development of the assembly method with a high degree of prefabrication reduced the construction time, the necessary truck trips as well as noise and dust.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addresses by providing local solutions
FUTURE HOME faces many global challenges on a local level: The innovative timber construction sets new standards, as does efficient heat generation. Communication technology is planned as modularly as heating and ventilation. In practical implementation, the project deals with the affordability of housing and the future of our living.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.
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Yes

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Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

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Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their projects, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted project, is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes