Collaborators: Peter Jüssen, Yann Engelen
SYNOPSIS: Our bachelor thesis revolved around a seemingly simple question: What should we do with vacant large-scale properties? Following the bankruptcy of Germany’s largest department store chain, over 2.5 million m² of retail space, equivalent to 1.2 times the size of Monaco, were left vacant. Through a deep analysis phase that included studying literature, scientific papers, and engaging with experts, politicians, and local communities, we uncovered some striking conclusions. The embedded CO₂ in the structure of an average department store is equivalent to 900 years of non-stop driving, making demolition an unsustainable option. Meanwhile, finding new tenants for buildings of this size typically takes 8 to 10 years, which is also not a viable answer. Out of this dilemma, I developed a deceptively simple concept: just continue using the building. To enable this, we created a set of tools to facilitate new usage strategies, ensuring the building could remain in use without any structural changes.
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