New7 is an innovative, mixed-use building under development in Mannheim. Through the use of timber as the primary construction material, it complements the existing structure, setting a contemporary example of inner-city regeneration and infill development. The existing building’s two basement levels, ground floor and large sections of the first floor have been retained and supplemented by a modern hybrid timber construction comprising five storeys above. According to plans by Stuttgart-based architectural firm Blocher Partners, this will create new residential, retail and office space, as well as 105 micro-apartments operated by Limehome.
HESS TIMBER’s work on the New7 project included initial consultancy on structural engineering and detailed design, as well as supplying 1,500 m³ of cross-laminated timber and 570 m³ of block-glued laminated timber columns from the HASSLACHER group.
The hybrid timber-concrete composite floor (HBV) comprises cross-laminated timber elements of different thicknesses, covered by a 10 cm layer of concrete. A high degree of prefabrication, combined with a detailed, fully model-based design process (BIM), enabled the timber components used in the project to be fabricated with millimetre precision. Due to specific requirements during the assembly phase, the cross-laminated timber components were fitted with a weather protection film at the factory. L+S BAUCON GmbH, a subcontractor to HESS TIMBER, was responsible for assembling the timber structure, including the Peikko beams, and installing the modular prefabricated bathrooms.
