The living shelf

The principle of speed, durability and cost efficiency has proven itself in industrial hall construction - characteristics that are increasingly being sought in residential construction. One example of this is the residential project by architects FAR frohn+rojas in Berlin-Moabit, which was built using serialised prefabricated elements. The innovative concept of the ‘residential shelf’ was developed by Marc Frohn and enabled a fast construction time: the building was completed after just one year of planning and a further year of construction. The construction costs of 1,500 euros per square metre were only slightly exceeded.

The rapid realisation was possible thanks to close cooperation with the specialist planners at the precast concrete plant. The production of the components in the factory and the precise planning of the connections ensured that the shell was ready after just six weeks. The flexible, external load-bearing structure allows the building to be easily adapted and extended.

Although the choice of materials is not entirely sustainable, the project follows a circular economy approach: the components are durable and reversible and can be dismantled and reused without being destroyed. All structural information is available digitally, enabling efficient recycling of the components. The building has a life cycle of 120 years and thus contributes to saving materials and CO2 emissions.