C3 Cube TU Dresden

HENN developed the concept design of the first building made of carbon concrete worldwide, the so-called Cube. The 220 m² experimental building combines laboratory and event rooms, and sets an example of architectural and structural innovation at the Technical University of Dresden (Excellence University label). Centrally located at Fritz-Foerster-Platz, meeting and exhibition rooms invite the public and form a center for the students on campus. The coexistence of laboratory and assembly functions stands for intellectual exchange, cross-fertilization and proximity to research.

The test building for carbon concrete is a showcase project of the research project on innovative building materials "C³ - Carbon Concrete Composite", financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In this project, carbon concrete is being researched and developed as a new combination of carbon and high-performance concrete. With this new building material, the light yet robust carbon fibres allow for flexible and resource-saving construction. The conversion to this innovative material can reduce CO2 emissions from construction up to 50%. With the Cube, HENN makes a significant contribution to the development and implementation of this future-oriented construction technology.
Besides the technical achievements, the design is of central importance. The design reinterprets the textile nature of carbon fibres through the fluid merging of ceiling and walls in a single form, suggesting a future architecture where environmentally conscious design is paired with formal freedom and radical rethinking of the most basic architectural elements. Wall and ceiling are no longer separate elements but functionally merge into one another as an organic continuum. The roof is opened by a skylight, which additionally emphasizes the organic form. Through the design of the building, the carbon concrete shows its design possibilities in an impressive way; the building becomes a sculpture.