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The Turbinenhaus Residential Building
Located in the Emmenhof district of Derendingen, the Turbinenhaus occupies a strategic position between the area’s industrial past and its evolving residential future. The project maintains a direct relationship with the historic spinning mill buildings to the east and the hydroelectric power plant to the south, both of which have shaped the identity of the site for generations.
At the same time, the building establishes a transition toward the natural landscape to the west. Together with the neighboring residential block, it helps define the central spinning mill square, creating a strong urban presence while reinforcing the site’s historical narrative. The concept and name are derived from the turbine itself—a machine centered on rotation, movement, and continuous interaction with its surroundings.
Reflecting the Spirit of a Turbine
Inspired by the sleek and dynamic qualities of turbine technology, the building is wrapped in a distinctive aluminum façade. Its metallic surface references the materiality of industrial machinery while introducing a contemporary architectural expression that feels both refined and innovative.
Beyond its visual impact, the reflective façade actively engages with its environment. It mirrors the surrounding industrial structures, changing skies, vegetation, and public spaces, creating an ever-evolving play of light and shadow across the building’s exterior. This reflective quality allows the architecture to blend with its context while subtly emphasizing its sculptural form, reinforcing the project’s central theme of movement, transformation, and connection between past and present.
Rotated Inner Outward of Core Torque The core torque rotates from the inside out like a turbine-type building
The building’s spaces develop from a rotated inner core outward, with the staircase forming the central torque of the turbine. The apartments are oriented on at least three sides and interlock with the surroundings like blades. The ground floor is public, enlivening the area with a restaurant and commercial spaces based on a flexible floor plan design. Above it, there are 24 apartments in 8 different types, spread over 6 floors. The building’s volume and the apartments themselves open towards nature and the canal is made tangible by the split-level apartments on the west side.
The Industrial Heritage with Contemporary Living and the Surrounding Environment Harmonizing
The building is topped with a collective attic floor, serving as a garden for various functions. Dense tree plantings support shading and cooling, and communal terraces provide space for social interactions.
Thus, the Turbinenhaus becomes a socially productive place on the site, harmonizing the industrial heritage with contemporary living and the surrounding environment.
