Sustainable building in practice: what Rosa and Paula are doing
For the following article, Marie Teichmann (TransBIB project team member at Leibniz University Hannover) met with Sven Rückert (Riedel Bau AG) and Prof. Martin Naumann (ASAP Institute for Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Architecture GmbH) to discuss the goals, experiences and lessons learned from the Paul & Rosa project. The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to CO₂ emissions. Climate-friendly construction therefore requires holistic approaches that combine sustainable building materials, recyclable construction methods and intelligent planning processes right from the start. This is precisely where the Paul & Rosa residential construction project by Riedel Bau AG in Schweinfurt comes in: it sees itself not only as a construction project, but also as a real-life laboratory for the construction revolution. The aim is to test resource-efficient, climate-friendly and socially liveable housing in practice and to derive concrete insights for future construction methods from the data obtained.
The starting point for the project was the desire to combine ecological responsibility with economic viability. In an industry with high concrete requirements, Riedel Bau feels a particular obligation to reduce emissions and develop new solutions without losing sight of the realities of a medium-sized company. Sustainable construction should therefore not be thought of as a theoretical ideal, but as a practicable model that meets both ecological requirements and entrepreneurial and social needs. Against this backdrop, a conscious decision was made to question established ways of thinking and to try out new approaches with Paul & Rosa.
Prof. Naumann reports that Paul & Rosa originated as a university student project. The students were given an open assignment and worked closely with Riedel Bau to develop initial concepts. Even though these designs were not immediately feasible, they provided valuable ideas and food for thought. This ultimately led to the decision to further develop the project and put it into practice.
In close cooperation between Riedel Bau AG and scientists, the two buildings Paul and Rosa, with a total of six rental flats, were planned and ultimately built according to the principles of sustainable construction. In the course of the project, those involved encountered a number of challenges.
Prof. Martin Naumann: "The big challenge for us was that the whole topic of sustainability is so complex and diverse that you constantly find yourself faced with contradictions."
In addition, there was a constant need for clarification in discussions with specialist planners and contractors in order to explain the background and objectives of sustainable construction, according to Naumann.
From Riedel Bau's perspective, it was also a major challenge to combine theory and practice. Rückert explains that in everyday business, processes are often geared towards efficiency, cost-effectiveness and compliance with regulations. Innovative construction methods, some of which have been developed outside existing regulations, clash with familiar processes and ways of thinking.
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Sven Rückert: "Finding compromises was definitely the biggest challenge. But I say: if it hurts both parties a little, then we have the best compromise and ultimately the best result."
Despite all the challenges, two buildings are now ready for occupancy. Rückert offers the following advice to other companies that are still new to the field of sustainability:
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Sven Rückert: "You have to have the courage to tackle the issue. You need a management team that is willing to do so and has the courage to commit to it. Our company owner, Stefanie Riedel, provided us with the land for Paul & Rosa specifically for this research project."
Prof. Naumann adds to this idea with a long-term perspective:
Prof. Martin Naumann: "My ideal scenario would actually be that sustainability eventually ceases to be an issue and becomes a matter of course."
His vision is a construction practice in which sustainability no longer needs to be specifically mentioned – similar to fire safety. Buildings today are not described as "particularly fire-safe" because these characteristics are assumed to be standard. In the same way, climate and resource protection should also be understood as a fundamental prerequisite for construction in the future. Given the scale of the climate crisis, investing in sustainability is even more important than many other structural safety aspects.
Our conclusion:
The Paul & Rosa project shows how sustainable transformation can succeed! Do you have your own ideas for sustainable processes and products? Would you like to take the next step in your company and embed sustainability holistically? Contact us and discover the potential for organic and sustainable development in your company – from analysis to concrete implementation.