A historical city building in Hannover, the capital city of Lower Saxony, Germany, was extensively renovated using a designer roof tile that meets modern requirements.
The new roof of the urban building in Hannover is understated at first sight, but reveals something quite special on closer inspection. The Lönshaus building in the Hannover-Zoo quarter was recently renovated from September to October 2020, including a complete refurbishment of the roof, façade and windows.
The three-storey building was erected in 1917 on the corner of Lönsstrasse and Kleefelder Strasse at a time when architectural styles were transitioning between Historicism, Art Nouveau and Modernism: the bay windows and portal are reminiscent of the 19th-century style while the metal balcony railings spell out the name “Lönshaus” in Art Deco lettering. The exposed position demanded a new roof solution that would deliver the goods in terms of both aesthetics and function.
The client and project manager opted for the Koramic V11 flat tile coated with anthracite-black engobe. They were won over by the tile’s distinctive form, which creates a multi-faceted play of light on the roof. The tile also features a V-shaped indentation that facilitates water drainage from the roof.
Eleven 27.2 x 48.0-cm designer tiles were used for every square metre of the approximately 690-m2 hipped roof with pitched roof extension. Ridge tiles with the same finish were installed to ventilate the roof. All the dormers were sealed and their sides clad with slate. This resulted in a harmonious overall impression that is consistent with the historical appearance of the house.
The roof takes up around half the surface area of the building envelope. So it is not only a functional protective layer but also has a considerable visual impact. In addition, it has to manage a balancing act: the roof should suit the building without being too dominant while still fulfilling the functional aspects of a roof. The Koramic V11 unites premium design standards with the full functionality of a roof tile – as verified by the numerous design awards showered on the tile after its launch in October 2020.
The tile was a great success for the company – and what’s more: for the first time in its history, Wienerberger created a tile in collaboration with external designers from Studio F.A. Porsche. The brick was ready for series production in just 12 months and has shown what it can do since the renovation of the Lönshaus in the Hannover-Zoo quarter.
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