Multi-family house Hinterer Schermen, Ittigen

The project
The former pasta factory in Ittigen, built around 1843, was converted into a residential building in 1995 and is classified as worthy of protection. The diverse original room structure was integrated into the new usage concept and remains visible. Various measures were necessary for the renovation: rotten beams were replaced with a new supporting structure, damaged supports were reinforced, and overloaded components were relieved by additional joists, trusses, and supports. Many of these reinforcements are now hidden in the wall and ceiling structures.

The construction method
The floor plan is divided into three areas by a two-story air space in the middle. The southern part ends in an arbor. The roof with its generous canopy has a surrounding eave and consists of four gable roofs, each of which converge at right angles. The beams of the floor slabs are embedded in the exterior walls of plastered sandstone and rest on joists in the interior.

The challenge
Additional supports were installed to preserve and relieve the existing supporting structure. The loads were distributed across several floors via walls and ceilings. Due to the low room height, joists with limited construction height had to be combined. A Vierendeel girder made of glued laminated timber and steel profiles could thus be largely integrated into the ceiling construction.