The Friedenauer Höhe project is the first time that Instone Real Estate and its joint venture partner, OFB Projektentwicklung GmbH, have used carbonated recycled concrete in a large residential construction project in Berlin. Stefan Heinisch of Instone explains how this innovative building material was used and what insights the company has gained for future construction projects.
The construction industry is one of the world’s largest CO2 emitters and is a major consumer of resources. In Germany alone the production of concrete accounts for around 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. For Instone Real Estate Development GmbH, sustainable construction has long been a key priority.
The Friedenauer Höhe construction project in Berlin is the first time that the company has used carbonated recycled concrete, produced using neustark technology which permanently stores carbon dioxide in recycled demolition concrete. Stefan Heinisch of Instone explains why this material was used and recounts the lessons learned.
Friedenauer Höhe in Berlin, built with carbonated RC concrete from neustark (Copyright: Markus Bachmann photography)
Interview with Stefan Heinisch, Senior Project Manager at Instone Real Estate Development GmbH
What made you decide to use carbonated recycled concrete on the Friedenauer Höhe project?
It was vitally important for us to gain practical experience of using CO2-reduced concrete. Sustainability is increasingly important in the construction industry and for the Instone Group. We feel it is our responsibility to research innovative and environmentally friendly materials so that construction projects can become more efficient and sustainable.
What exactly was built with carbonated concrete on the Friedenauer Höhe project and what was the initial feedback?
On the Friedenauer Höhe project we used carbonated recycled concrete for the reinforced concrete walls and the top concrete layer of filigree slabs. The feedback from our engineers and the construction companies involved was consistently positive. One positive aspect was that no additional work was required during the processing stage. The properties of the material were comparable to conventional concrete, which demonstrates that the use of CO2-reduced concrete does not compromise construction quality.
One positive aspect was that no additional work was required during the processing stage. The properties of the material were comparable to conventional concrete.
Were there any particular challenges that must be taken into consideration on future projects?
Some challenges, such as the higher price and ongoing restrictions on some concrete formulae required for our construction projects – high compression strength and waterproof concrete, for instance – must be borne in mind.
How has Instone been affected by the use of carbonated concrete?
Thanks to the successful use of CO2-reduced recycled concrete on the Friedenauer Höhe project, we have been able to establish ourselves as a pioneer in the Berlin construction industry. We are the first company in the city to use this sustainable building material on a major construction project. This boosts our image as a future-oriented property developer committed to protecting the environment and taking innovative approaches in the construction sector. We have also gained valuable experience that will help us implement similar projects even more efficiently and sustainably in the future.
About the development
Project Name: Friedenauer Höhe, 12159 Berlin
Size: ca. 1,060 residential units (a mix of rented and owner-occupied apartments)
Location: Berlin-Schöneberg, near Innsbrucker Platz S-Bahn station
Surface area: ca. 60,000 m2
Components built from carbonated recycled concrete: several reinforced-concrete walls; top concrete layer on filigree slabs in construction phase WA 5
Contact
Elmar Vatter
Project Lead Marketing & Communications