Schöck ISokorb combInatIon
meetS berlIn project demandS
Affordable living space is a scarce resource in Berlin and
helping to resolve the problem is Paragon Apartments, a
contemporary inner-city housing complex in the Pankow
district. The project centres on the historic and now disused
Prenzlauer Berg Hospital building. Two new upper storeys
have been added to the original building, three further existing
buildings modified and there are two new structures. The ‘cube
theme’ design comprises 217 high specification apartments
– ranging from compact studios to rooftop duplexes – plus a
kindergarten, a café and a supermarket. All are designed as a
three-dimensional façade, with terraces and a shifting stacked
balcony pattern involving prefabricated concrete elements with
glazed surfaces.
a complex structural desIgn
The Paragon building envelope and balcony construction is
complex and to minimise potential thermal bridging problems,
Schöck has supplied three of its main Isokorb types. First the
Isokorb KXT, for concrete-to-concrete applications, which has
been awarded the low ‘thermal bridge construction‘ certificate
by the Passivhaus Institute in Darmstadt confirming its
suitability, even for passivhaus construction. In the design,
the plate and the canopy element for the balcony below act
structurally on the same floor. So it is necessary to connect
the two free-cantilevered reinforced concrete plates using
the appropriate Isokorb types in an alternating pattern. The
standard Schöck Isokorb type KXT with straight shear and
tension rods, is alternated with the Isokorb type KXT-HV. This
has off-centre shear and tension rods on one side to enable
connection to a downstand beam, where the balcony lies lower
than the floor slab. Both units meet the most demanding
specifications and transfer both negative moments and positive
shear forces
two addItIonal IsokorB types
In addition to the type KXT, the Isokorb types EXT and KS are
also incorported. The EXT normally complements the type KXT
in bearing high loads involving cantilevered external corner
balconies – but on this occasion supports the side wall loads.
The KS is installed where there is a requirement for the free
cantilevered steel girder canopy elements to be secured to the
reinforced concrete slab.
The Paragon Apartments project provides an interesting
example of how, by designing-in a combination of Schöck
Isokorb types, a variety of differing project specification
challenges can be met
for a free copy of the schöck thermal Bridging guide and
/ or the thermal Bridging solutions brochure – contact the
company on 01865 290 890 or visit www.schoeck.co.uk