{"id":39844,"date":"2025-11-19T14:23:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T14:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/news\/profiled-tonal-ceramic-facade-for-residential-complexes-in-pforzheim\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T08:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T08:45:19","slug":"profiled-tonal-ceramic-facade-for-residential-complexes-in-pforzheim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/news\/profiled-tonal-ceramic-facade-for-residential-complexes-in-pforzheim\/","title":{"rendered":"Profiled tonal terracotta facade for residential complexes in Pforzheim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Encouraging interaction among residents, creating a vibrant atmosphere, and, not least, delivering a durable building: against this backdrop, four new residential buildings with diverse floor plans have been constructed in Pforzheim\u2014designed and planned by the Freiburg-based architecture firm Sacker. Only robust, maintenance-free, top-quality building materials were used in the construction. In line with this approach, the ventilated rainscreen facade was realized using Tonality terracotta by Leipfinger-Bader. With their relief-like surface and light color scheme, the terracotta elements give the buildings a unique character. At the same time, the raw material clay forges a connection to, and architectural continuity with, the immediate surroundings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Four multi-family buildings with a total of 90 apartments form the new residential development on Rembrandtstra\u00dfe in Pforzheim. They represent a pioneering project that meets the needs of a diverse society. The floor plans were designed with various requirements in mind. The rental housing for seniors, singles, and small families consists of practically designed two-room apartments of up to 58 square meters, as well as larger units with four and five rooms. This deliberate combination of different unit types creates a socially mixed neighborhood. Family-friendliness, accessibility, and intergenerational living defined the project\u2019s planning. \n \n \n \n<\/p>\n\n

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The facade made of natural Tonality terracotta elements reflects the nature-oriented approach of the entire project and is a circular natural product. Photo: Dietmar Strau\u00df<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Oriented toward the existing building stock<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The four compact building volumes were positioned on the site so that their arrangement and scale align with the development to the north, allowing them to integrate seamlessly into the existing fabric. Every apartment receives sunlight and offers a view toward Pforzheim\u2019s city center. The bright, internal staircase serves up to six apartments each. Visual connections across floors foster a sense of neighborly community and create a generous spatial impression. The living-dining areas of the apartments are located at the building corners. A loggia articulates the interior and creates diagonal sightlines to the outside. The large bathrooms are situated along the facade. \n \n \n \n<\/p>\n\n

Amidst greenery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Particular attention was also paid to the design of the open spaces to create a livable environment. In this context, the planners drew on the theme of the adjacent orchard meadows. The architecture was designed to create generous, nature-oriented open areas between the buildings. Each intermediate space was planted with various trees and plants, giving it its own character. The central courtyard functions as a neighborhood square and also offers play opportunities for children. The private outdoor areas were delineated with low walls, which form a contrast to the surrounding soft, flowing landscape.<\/p>\n\n

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The value and surface quality of the individually manufactured terracotta elements is clearly visible.<\/em> Photo: Dietmar Strau\u00df<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Profiled eye-catcher<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

To optimally complement the nature-oriented surroundings and the brick fa\u00e7ades of the adjacent existing buildings, the choice for the fa\u00e7ade also fell on a pure natural product made of clay. The ventilated Tonality rainscreen fa\u00e7ade (VHF) by Leipfinger-Bader features high-quality terracotta elements with a relief surface in the visible area, with individual sections additionally grooved. They were custom-made for this project in widths of 340, 370, and 400 millimeters and in lengths of up to 1,600 millimeters. The profiling pleasantly loosens the fa\u00e7ade and lends it a vibrancy that reflects the colorful life within the residential buildings. The \u201cLight Cream\u201d color scheme appears particularly welcoming, bright, optimistic, and unobtrusive. This premium building envelope not only stands out visually with high ecological quality, but also contributes to the long-term orientation of the residential complexes. \n \nThanks to the high firing temperatures, the ceramic elements are especially durable. They are reliably UV-resistant, offer high scratch and impact resistance, and remain colorfast for the life of the building. The integrated graffiti protection never needs to be renewed, as it is created through the production process rather than applied afterward. Because the high-end terracotta absorb little water, soiling from moss and algae is also reduced. Compared to many other exterior wall claddings\u2014such as multi-layer and bonded fa\u00e7ade systems\u2014Tonality terracotta are also mono-material and can be disassembled and reused in the same function and quality. This supports resource-conserving, sustainable construction. Another advantage: the terracotta elements are classified as non-combustible in building material class A1 according to EN 13501-1\u2014an important safety aspect, especially given ongoing discussions about the fire involvement of certain types of fa\u00e7ade insulation.<\/p>\n\n

Play of light and shadow through vertical profiling<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The terracotta fa\u00e7ade is supported in the non-visible area by a high-quality substructure that proves both flexible and stable. It is also very lightweight\u2014an attribute resulting from the low dead weight of the single-skin terracotta elements. In Pforzheim, these are mounted vertically on the substructure\u2014and in some cases rotated 180 degrees during installation. This creates a unique, vibrant fa\u00e7ade design, further enhanced by the play of shadows produced by the profiling. Thanks to the low self-weight and imposed loads, the substructure requires fewer wall anchors. This reduces the formation of thermal bridges in the building insulation and also saves material and labor time. The terracotta elements can likewise be hooked into the substructure quickly and easily. In this way, the Tonality fa\u00e7ade also offers an answer to the acute shortage of skilled labor in the construction sector. \n \n \n \n<\/p>\n\n

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The profiled terracotta elements are a particular eye-catcher. Mounted vertically, they present different appearances depending on the time of day and the angle of sunlight, creating a very lively effect. Photo: Dietmar Strau\u00df \n \n \n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Facade as part of the living environment<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The ventilated rainscreen fa\u00e7ade is a highly effective system thanks to the constructive separation of thermal insulation and weather protection functions. Air circulates automatically between the fa\u00e7ade cladding and the insulation, safely and reliably removing any moisture. The ventilation gap thus ensures the fa\u00e7ade remains permanently and continuously dry and creates a healthy indoor climate that benefits the residents.<\/p>\n\n

Outside corner with open joint<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Ventilated terracotta fa\u00e7ades give architects and planners a wide range of design possibilities and options, including for window reveals and outside corners. Outside-corner solutions with open joints, for example, create a precise, geometric appearance that divides the fa\u00e7ade surface into clearly defined grids. The joints also produce a contrast between the terracotta surface and the shadow lines of the joint. This effect lends the fa\u00e7ade depth and dynamism\u2014especially under changing light conditions. A prerequisite for the technically flawless performance of the outside corner is careful detailing, which Tonality approached diligently on the Pforzheim project as well.<\/p>\n\n

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Outside-corner construction with monolithic visual depth.<\/em> Photo: Dietmar Strau\u00df<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Implemented this way, the terracotta fa\u00e7ade is able to actively shape the residents\u2019 living environment and influence its surroundings. \u201cFa\u00e7ade design is a technical tour de force and, ultimately, an emotion that carries everyone involved,\u201d concludes Michael Klein, an expert in terracotta fa\u00e7ades at Tonality.<\/p>\n\n

Construction sign<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Construction project:<\/strong> New construction of four residential buildings on Rembrandtstra\u00dfe in PforzheimClient:<\/strong> ARGE Pforzheimer Wohnungsunternehmen Postwiesen-\/Rembrandtstra\u00dfe GbR, Familienheim Pforzheim Baugenossenschaft eG, and Pforzheimer Bau und Grund GmbHArchitecture firm:<\/strong> Sacker Architekten GmbH, FreiburgFa\u00e7ade contractor:<\/strong> Wittenauer GmbH, SasbachTerracotta fa\u00e7ade<\/strong>: Tonality, Weroth (Leipfinger-Bader)<\/p>\n\n

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Four multi-family buildings form the new residential development on Rembrandtstra\u00dfe in Pforzheim. Photo: Dietmar Strau\u00df \n \n \n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

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Encouraging interaction among residents, creating a vibrant atmosphere, and, not least, delivering a durable building: against this backdrop, four new residential buildings with diverse floor plans have been constructed in Pforzheim\u2014designed and planned by the Freiburg-based architecture firm Sacker. Only robust, maintenance-free, top-quality building materials were used in the construction. In line with this approach, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":39784,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_improvement_type_select":"improve_an_existing","_thumb_yes_seoaic":false,"_frame_yes_seoaic":false,"seoaic_generate_description":"","seoaic_improve_instructions_prompt":"","seoaic_rollback_content_improvement":"","seoaic_idea_thumbnail_generator":"","thumbnail_generated":false,"thumbnail_generate_prompt":"","seoaic_article_description":"","inline_featured_image":false,"seoaic_article_subtitles":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-references"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39844\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tonality.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}