pihlmann

Slabs tilted into stairways, façades reorganized into pavement, doors morphed into furniture: utilize every possible element. The transformation highlights pragmatic reuse of materials and components and explores the architectural value of the already existing.

The transformation, turning a former factory from the 1960s into an open community hub, centers on the concept of self-recycling within the building. Each layer of the structure, even those traditionally deemed insignificant, is viewed as an asset. Much of the existing material will be retained, repurposed according to its inherent qualities to meet programmatic needs.

The various components reflect changing times, functions, and expectations. They present themselves as an architectural pentimento. On the one hand, it seems recognizable by virtue of the elaboration of existing components. On the other hand, unexpected synergies are created when elements appear in a new constellation and functions within a rewritten context.

As a result, an informal architecture emerges, marked by subtraction rather than addition, revealing echoes of its origins. The architectural heritage of the building is intuitively recognized and reinvigorated within a cyclical system.

The project won first prize in a competition organized by the Bikuben Foundation in 2021. The transformation was completed in January 2025.