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Modernization of old buildings: Modern heating technology in an old hay loft / air conomy ensures fresh and pleasant country air in an office / Perfect room and working temperatures on a former country estate
Selters/Mannheim (hds). – The dream of the Mohr family from Mannheim has become reality: They have been able to call one hectare of land with stables, barn and residence their own for a good year now. The 'Hofgut Straßenheim' - currently still in need of modernization and only a few minutes away on the motorway from Mannheim and a popular destination for day trippers as well - will shortly be a new home and workplace too for the family of four. However, until then there is still a lot to do: Much modernization and building work lies ahead, since the self-employed industrial agent and new 'Lord of the manor' Andreas Mohr and his wife Ines have quite a few plans for their new domicile…
The hayloft as an office floor
Never mind whether it was a stable or cowshed, a tobacco or grain barn - for each building there are new and modern usage concepts. For example, the former hayloft in the old cowshed that until the mid-70s still accommodated up to 60 cows will be altered and converted to form a new office floor and training room. For events and break-times, a cosy meeting point will be created in the neighbouring tobacco barn. "Later, when everything is finished, new stables will be erected here too", the keen horseman Andreas Mohr is pleased to report. In the meantime the family itself will be moving into the former stable block. Here, highly individual living accommodation will be created in the available space of 220 square metres.
Old and new united
During the project-planning phase, the new estate owners lent a hand themselves. In the course of this, the nature lovers had stipulated from the very beginning that the original country estate character was to remain intact as far as possible. The requirements of the protection of historic monuments will also be fulfilled, which generally means involvement of additional costs. "Unfortunately", the client complained, "the building regulations stipulated by the fire service are not always in accord with our ideas." For example, recently a true to the original wooden staircase had to be put aside in favour of a massively stone-built stairway.
Ecological and aesthetic aspects
Behind the restored façades and under the freshly covered roofs is concealed ultra-modern and above all environmentally friendly technology. "Along with ecological aspects and cost factors, a feel-good atmosphere in individual rooms was also crucial in terms of interior design”, Mohr summarized. With particular regard to the subject of heating, the clients regarded themselves as being faced with big demands. In choosing a suitable heating technology, it was important to take into account several aspects. "So as not to destroy the architecture of the rooms, we wanted completely to avoid radiators on the wall at any cost. An underfloor heating system on the other hand had to withstand a large number of people, namely up to 120 trainees, and to fulfil the required safety aspects. Last but not least, we also desired that the fresh country air could be enjoyed in our office accommodation and exert a positive influence on everyday life", is how Mohr describes the conundrum.
Heating technology for the country estate
A solution was provided by the air conomy surface heating and ventilation system from Schütz Energy Systems from Selters in the Westerwald. This system for heating, cooling and ventilating combines all the required components out of sight in the floor. All that can be seen are the ventilation slits that serve to air and vent the rooms and to supply the latter with warm air as required. On hot summer days though, there is the facility to cool by up to three or four degrees. "This is an option that staff will be sure to appreciate in the offices located on the top floor, by next summer", Mohr remarks with pleasure. An even passage of pleasant country air is also guaranteed. For the six offices and the 150 square metres sized training room on a total floor space of 400 square metres, two ventilation areas were specifically installed here. In this manner, the fresh and venting air passages will be shorter and the continuous air exchange will be guaranteed in all rooms around the clock. Air contaminated with odours and airborne pollutants will be exchanged in this manner. Last but not least, room conditions that are harmless to people suffering from allergies will be provided.
Thanks to the best possible heat insulation – double insulation was fitted – the new estate owners will be able to look forward to the winter heating period too with an air of calm. They can even look forward to a low heating bill, since the heat reclamation quota is about 90 percent. The air conomy system's warm water surface heating system will be operated by an oil-fired high calorific value system.
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