The Johanniskarree is a forward-looking building complex with an advanced aluminum façade comprised of more than 90% recycled content — combining design and functionality. Located in the heart of Chemnitz, Germany, this year’s European Capital of Culture, the complex is features nine levels, providing retail spaces, a health center, a training facility, a hotel, and residential units. It is a development that significantly shapes the urban evolution of the region.
Sustainability Meets Design
The Johanniskarree features a distinctive design that unites urban diversity and modern architecture. In collaboration with bhss Architekten, SCHRAG Fassaden GmbH developed the distinctive geometry of the building’s ventilated curtain façade and translated the architecture into a 3D model for detailed planning and installation.
Both the substructure of the bolt-hung façade and the production of the parametrically folded cassettes were carried out at SCHRAG Fassaden’s Chemnitz facility. The result is an elegant, almost timeless design that impresses not only with its design, but also highlights the performance of sustainable aluminum products.
Approximately 75 tonnes of aluminum were installed across an area of around 3,500 sq m on the façade, which incorporates large-format aluminum panels comprised of Novelis HRC57S® anodized aluminum, with each panel being 3 mm thick. HRC57S provides an outstanding AlMg1 quality for decorative batch anodizing with superior bending and non-combustible properties. These anodized panels were then powder coated to achieve their final elegant appearance.
The aluminum provided for the panels has a guaranteed recycled content of at least 90%, including both pre-consumer and post-consumer material. The project exemplifies circular economy principles and the “Cradle to Cradle” approach that Novelis has consistently pursued for years.
“As a partner to the construction industry, we are committed to ensuring that our materials not only enable design freedom but also actively contribute to climate protection,” said Pollmann, sales lead specialties, Novelis Europe. “Aluminum recycling saves 95% energy and emissions compared to primary aluminum.”
The Johanniskarree stands as a visible symbol of the potential of sustainable building concepts. For Novelis, this project is a prime example of how aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability can be successfully combined. The aluminum solutions used demonstrate how resource-efficient construction and sophisticated architecture can go hand in hand. The project will thus leave a lasting mark on the cityscape of Chemnitz.