The “79 West” project in the Bavarian city of Straubing demonstrates how sustainable transformation of existing buildings can be achieved with modern architecture: A former car dealership has been converted into a modern commercial building featuring an individual, curtain-wall ventilated terracotta facade by TONALITY®. Vertically structured, matte-black elements give the building a strong character, combining technology, design and efficiency. The flexible facade system, graffiti protection and sustainable materials stand for longevity and economic modernisation – a flagship project of resource-efficient architecture with a powerful statement.
The conversion and expansion of existing buildings is increasingly coming into focus nationwide in terms of urban development and the real estate industry. Given the scarcity of available land and growing sustainability requirements, the renovation and extension of existing buildings offer decisive advantages: they save valuable land, conserve resources and revitalise inner-city locations. The conversion of former commercial sites into modern business and residential districts is a key element of future-oriented urban development.
Photo: Jürgen Bergbauer
Renovation and Expansion with Signal Effect
Against this backdrop, the “79 West” project has given a well-known building on Regensburger Straße in Straubing a new face. The former Sieber car dealership shaped the cityscape for decades, but no longer met today’s architectural standards. Now, a modern commercial building redefines the western entrance to Straubing at the same location. The site will soon be complemented by a new building with around 40 owner-occupied apartments. In this way, a prime urban development plot is being densified in a future-proof manner and put to sustainable use.
Vertical Elegance as an Architectural Leitmotif
The facade of the new commercial building makes a striking architectural statement. The design was developed in close coordination with the heritage preservation authority, as the building is located opposite the listed St. Wolfgang Educational Centre. The building, designed by pielmeier architekten, reinterprets the location in an urban context and makes the transformation from a former car dealership to a high-quality commercial site visible. The TONALITY® terracotta facade by Leipfinger-Bader significantly shapes the building’s appearance: vertically oriented elements with a finely grooved comb structure create a vibrant interplay of light, shadow and reflections that dynamically change the facade’s appearance. This contributes to a lively and varied visual impression. The vertical structures of the matte-black surface give the facade depth and texture. The interplay of contrasts is a central design motif of the project. The different window levels and the post-and-rail facade reinforce the design concept and create visual tension: while the windows on the upper floors are flush with the interior, the post-and-rail facade on the ground floor is flush with the exterior. This preserves the clear structure and character of the original car dealership in a contemporary form alongside the new facade design.
Photo: Jürgen Bergbauer
Individual Planning – Efficient Implementation
Every TONALITY® facade is individually planned and manufactured for each specific project. In Straubing, a system specially developed for vertical element installation was used. The precisely coordinated substructure of brackets as well as load-bearing and retaining profiles allows for flexible, safe and material-saving installation of the terracotta facade elements. The brackets serve to fix the load-bearing profiles to the supporting wall and reliably compensate for unevenness. Vertically running aluminium load-bearing profiles absorb the load of the terracotta elements and transfer it into the structure. Special retaining profiles enable concealed and therefore invisible fixing of the terracotta panels, which can be produced in various formats, colours and surface textures.
The system substructure, with its large spans for the carrier profiles, reduces the number of brackets required and thus ensures a particularly efficient execution. With this system, virtually all details of a vertically oriented terracotta facade can be resolved – a decisive advantage in renovation and extension projects with complex conditions. In addition, the curtain-wall ventilated facade provides effective weather protection, improves the building’s internal climate, contributes to energy efficiency and has a long service life. Low-maintenance and resistant to environmental influences, it meets the highest standards of sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
Graffiti Protection and Permanently High-Quality Appearance
A further advantage of the TONALITY® terracotta facade is the integrated graffiti protection. The terracotta surfaces are factory-treated to repel paint and are easy to clean – even graffiti can be removed without costly specialist cleaning. Ideal for high-traffic locations such as Regensburger Straße, where the “79 West” commercial building stands prominently in the public realm. This ensures the facade’s high-quality appearance is permanently maintained while minimising maintenance costs for operators.
Photo: Jürgen Bergbauer
Synergy of Existing Building and New Construction
As part of the conversion, the former car dealership was stripped back to its shell and restructured. The workshop halls, which had previously sealed almost 100 percent of the plot, were completely demolished and replaced by a modern extension. The right-hand section of the existing building was retained in order to continue making use of the embodied energy of the concrete skeleton structure. The new build and the existing structure merge into a unified design. Energy-efficient aluminium windows, sustainable insulation materials and a low-emission floor covering underline the sustainable approach. The exposed ribbed ceiling and generous ceiling heights of the former car dealership were retained. Technically, the building relies on an air source heat pump, photovoltaics and e-mobility infrastructure. The unsealed outdoor areas were landscaped with native plants in a nature-friendly manner.
TONALITY® Facades for Future-Oriented Urban Development
“79 West” demonstrates how densification and high design standards go hand in hand. The long-lasting, demountable terracotta facade enhances existing buildings architecturally and ecologically – a statement for sustainable architecture in urban spaces.
Photo: Jürgen Bergbauer
Project Data
Project: Conversion and extension of a former car dealership into the “79 West” commercial building, Regensburger Straße 79, Straubing
Client: AVAG Holding SE, Augsburg
Property Management and Marketing: Kränzel Immobilien & Hausverwaltung GmbH, Straubing
Architecture: pielmeier architekten, Straubing
Facade Construction: Thiel Fassadenbau, Feucht
Terracotta Facade: Leipfinger-Bader, Vatersdorf (TONALITY®)
Construction Period: 04/2024 to 03/2025