Aluminum facade revitalized by anodizing
Since 2009, the production building of BWB-Altenrhein AG has shaped Dorfstrasse in Altenrhein. After almost two decades, the aluminium façade had lost some of its expressive power, and the dark base appeared heavy. The aim of the measure was to noticeably change the architectural expression with the least possible use of resources.
The existing sheet metal was dismantled, cleaned and anodized again. They were returned to the building structure in a different rhythm and interpret the original design in a contemporary and precise manner.
Today, light and dark panels structure the plinth zone, complemented by high window openings. The clear grid gives the building lightness, openness and a new presence in the street space.
Fassade alt – Fassade neu
Keeping the existing in circulation
The renovation of the plinth façade was the result of a pragmatic approach: existing aluminium sheets were dismantled, cleaned and anodized again. This allowed them to be reused without any loss of quality. What initially seemed practical also corresponds to the principles of the circular economy – material remained in circulation and production and transportation costs were significantly reduced.
With the new anodization, the effort was limited to cleaning and finishing – a fraction compared to primary production. The result is in no way inferior to a new surface and shows how targeted interventions can achieve major savings without compromising on quality or appearance.
