Competition: New Fire Station and Hazard Prevention Center, Baden-Baden
Urban and Architectural Concept
The new fire station is conceived as a monolithic building volume that creates a distinctive landmark at the western entrance to Baden-Baden. Three clearly defined structures rise from the two-story base: the main building, the training tower, and the integrated control center. Together, they form a confident ensemble that combines robustness, functionality, and urban presence with a sense of craftsmanship and warmth.
The training tower marks the entrance to the fire station as a vertical landmark. The integrated control center is positioned as an independent building volume on the north side, giving it its own address and enhanced security. The quiet western side, facing Schwarzwaldstraße and the River Oos, serves as a natural recreational area. Green façades visually extend the base and create a gentle transition between the architecture and the riverside landscape.
Lageplan
Outdoor Areas and Access
The site is accessed via the new roundabout, ensuring fast and safe entry and exit routes for emergency vehicles. The integrated control center is accessed via the northern section of the building and is therefore clearly identifiable within the overall organization.
Sports, training, and recreational areas are provided on the roof of the base. They offer both functional quality and an attractive atmosphere while making optimal use of the limited site area.
Materials
The building envelope is made of pre-weathered timber. Its natural patina gives the ensemble a warm, elegant, and understated appearance. The material conveys durability and sustainability, creating a deliberate contrast to the building’s highly technical use.
The robust base, with elements made of exposed concrete, forms a solid foundation, while the timber on the upper floors establishes a more human scale. Large areas of glazing allow daylight to penetrate deep into the building and create an open connection between the interior and exterior.
The transparent vehicle hall facing Europastraße highlights the presence of the fire service within the urban context and strengthens public awareness of safety. Green façade elements along the River Oos soften the building’s structure, promote biodiversity, and establish a closer relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Ansicht Süd-West
Ansicht Süd-Ost
Building Organization
The internal organization follows a clear layering concept, ensuring short routes and efficient operational processes.
This arrangement reflects the hierarchy of functions: rapid emergency readiness at the bottom, followed by differentiated areas for the volunteer fire service, professional fire service, control center, and administration.
Ground floor: Vehicle hall based on the French hall layout, workshops, decontamination and washing areas, and technical service areas
First floor: Volunteer fire service areas, workshops, and a small outdoor area
Second floor: Professional fire service areas with rest, training, and instructional rooms, sports hall, fitness room, and offices; roof areas used for sports and recreation
Third floor: Administrative and meeting rooms for the integrated control center, located in close proximity to the operational areas
Querschnitt
Längsschnitt
Sustainability
The new building follows a comprehensive sustainability concept. The hybrid construction method reduces the building’s carbon footprint, while pre-weathered timber as the primary façade material stores carbon over the long term and contributes to a healthy indoor climate.
Green façades and green roofs improve the microclimate and promote biodiversity. Photovoltaic panels and rainwater collection support resource-efficient operation.
Energy Concept and Building Services
The compact building form, highly insulated envelope, and efficient building-services systems using heat pumps and heat recovery minimize primary energy demand.
The combined heating and cooling system uses heat pumps and refrigeration units. This allows efficient recovery of waste heat from the cooling process and highly efficient heating and cooling using ambient air. As an additional heat source, district heating could be used as an option. Alternatively, the River Oos could serve as an energy-efficient heat source via a heat pump at low outdoor temperatures and could also be used for cooling.
The building-services systems are designed to meet the requirements of critical infrastructure. Redundant systems ensure the heating and cooling supply to the control center in combination with the emergency power generator.
Electricity generated by the building’s photovoltaic system is used on site for lighting and for operating the heat pumps and refrigeration units. Rainwater is collected in large cisterns and used for firefighting exercises and toilet flushing.
