INFOZENTRALE auf dem Vollgut

The different faces of INFOZENTRALE

JANUARY 2021: Since its “completion” in 2018, the INZE has needed a number of makeovers, which was to be expected with a facade made out of paper and cardboard. Over the last two years it has provided a surface for the local neighbourhood to express themselves on. These expressions have varied from the highly artistic to the simply obscene and deliberately destructive. These interventions, plus Berlins consistently inclement winter weather, eventually meant that the INZE received a new and more robust timber facade in spring 2020.

But this is only the most visible transformation that the INZE has undergone over the last three years. Many more things have evolved behind the scenes. The INZE has gone from a DesignBuild project, realised through the engagement and motivation of students and Natural Building Lab, to a self-governed community project, that exists and is alive without our involvement. This transformation in ownership is one of things that makes us most proud and sure that, despite it being “temporary”, the INZE will succeed and evolved for many more years to come - though we hope that we will always be invited to help with future makeovers.

Some of the INZE Crew (aka. Building Cycle Collective) meanwhile came back to the Natural Building Lab for the masters and are doing all sorts of great and optimistic things that make us very happy and proud. Us - would be the so-called teachers here that became great learners in the cause of the project. Actually the roles have become fuzzy. 

A new facade for INFOZENTRALE

MAY 2020: The INFOZENTRALE had initially been built as a temporary structure with an intended lifespan of two years. This was mainly because it was not clear from the beginning wether operating and mantaining the place would function the way it was planned. But as there was much interest by the actors involved on the VOLLGUT site and responsilbilities were being shared the project phase was prolonged. Therefore some renovation work needed to be undertaken: The experimental cardboard box wall system was generally in a very good state - considering it was at some stage considered to last for approximitly one year. However, it had suffered from vandalism - meanwhile the terrace had become a very popular, publicly accessible hangout spot day and night in the midst of Neukölln.

So, after two years of being in use and being tested we decided to add a new outer layer to the wall system of stacked cardboard boxes. This required a creative approach to construction details and methods: More robust timber panels were added as an additional layer. The substructure was stuck onto the paper walls with recycled posters. The new panels were screwed on directly and will now protect the walls for years to come.

The construction works were undertaken by us, a team of students and teachers involved in the project since the very beginning. It served as a very soothing break after months of being locked in during the corona pandemic.

A terrace for INFOZENTRALE

SUMMER 2019: One year has passed since the Richtfest ceremony of the Infozentrale. In the summer months of 2019 a terrace underneath the 100 m2 roof was added to the built space for the coming seasons. It aims to expand the Infozentrale to the outside and connect it with the surrounding community garden. The supporting structure was built by recovered wood from a past installation project.

A group of ten students worked for one week on site. The team was a mix of students new to the project and some of those that had been the driving forces since the very beginning - the latter ones acted as coordinators of the construction site.

INFOZENTRALE in use

SPRING 2019: Since construction works had been completed the INFOZENTRALE hosted various events - bit by bit the place has become known & vivid. Stakeholder meetings, community pasta evenings, and various workshops have been taking place on a regular basis since the inauguration. 

We are excited to see how the place will develop further and how it will meet it`s original goal: to provide space for actors with diverse backgrounds to encounter each other and get engaged in the neighbourhood.

Let's get started with INFOZENTRALE

AUTUMN 2018: The Infozentrale is opening it`s doors as a 'place for all' ! A new website www.infozentrale.berlin, which includes an open calendar, simplifies access and makes the events is online now!

Building Phase: The walls

SUMMER 2018: After a few months as a open roof structure the cardboard wall system that we had invented and tested back at the school of architecture is being build in. Tons of donated posters are being soaked in self-cooked (and vegan!) glue. Technical challenges included the different standards, heights and connectors of the different crates. Each module had to be assembled from a collection of different crates. This was in the end a tetris-like challenge requiring much experimentation and patience!

There is quite a sense of festival atmosphere on the construction site.

Building Phase: Lifting the roof

MAY 2018: The roof structure that we had built on the ground was finally lifted! After that it was time for the Richtfest.

Building Phase: manuals

The INFOZENTRALE was conceived as a prototype for a circular construction system, in which recycled and waste materials can be given a further usage cycle. The system itself is based on reversible details and connections, allowing it to be disassembled and elements re-used at a later date. For example, the lattice grid roof beams are connected by threaded bars, which can be loosened without causing damage to the timber beams themselves.

To build the new constructive elements, it was not always possible to fall back on conventional systems or expert knowledge. Therefore, detailed instructions on how to build and test these elements have been developed and illustrated.

Building Phase

FEBRUARY 2018: The team has finally arrived on the construction site. Bit by bit they will be spending more and more time here and less and less time within the protected surrounding of the school of architecture. Though only 12kms away it feels like travelling to the moon. They have landed in the real world for good and bad ...

Design Phase: Wood harvesting

JANUARY 2018: Sourcing and storing material are one of the most challenging parts of circular construction. We will definitly gain our own experience with that. However, in Januray 2018 the team is going out to Frohnau to harvest an old timber roof structure.

Design Phase: Material Testing

WINTER 2017: The construction of the wall elements provided a number of technical challenges, mainly because there were no presidents for the use of these materials in such a building. This required 1:1 experiments to be undertaken in order to determine all properties of the modules.

Firstly the load bearing capacity of the elements was determined by loading them with water tanks until failure. The durability of paper wall modules was a concern from the outset, to test this a number of prototypes were left outdoors over the winter and exposed to wind, rain and snow. Observation showed that the outer skin of posters, pasted with a mixture of flour, water and vinegar, absorbed some water but tended to dry very quickly, the inner structure with the fruit crates and insulation remained dry. Fire resistance was tested experimentally, here again the outer skin proved extremely resilient and difficult to ignite, even under prolonged exposure to a blow torch, the elements did not properly ignite.

Design Phase: Building Cycle

WINTER 2017: In October the Design Studio Building Cycle started with 36 students. The semester began by undertaking wide-ranging material experiments with the harvesting and reconfiguration of waste plastic, glass, timber and concrete, all of which were categorised and documented.

Based on these experiments teams were formed that worked on pre-designs for the site. These were discussed with the different future user groups. Based on these discussions the projects were merged into one single design that was then developed furher by the group as a whole. Therefore, the students defined different expert groups (material, construction, involvement, management, ...). Main decisions were taken in the big circle that soon became emblematic.