b_smart Hotel - E

HISTORY/LOCATION

Arbon (Thurgau) has a population of 15,000. In an idyllic setting beside Lake Constance, the town has long been associated with the historic production of Saurer trucks. A design plan for the disused Saurer site was drawn up in 2007, setting out the creation of a new district called Saurer WerkZwei.

In 2012, HRS Real Estate AG purchased and began steadily developing the 200,000 m2 site west of Arbon train station. By 2022, around over 300 apartments had been built. Further attractions include the Presswerk restaurant and event venue, the Giesserei restaurant and the Hamel shopping centre. The 11,000  m2 city park and 7,800 m2 Franz Saurer Passage are seen as key elements of the development. It is just 400 m from the train station and the A1 motorway is under 4 km away. The construction of the b_smart Hotel with 63 rooms and a parking garage by HRS Real Estate AG marks another milestone in the Saurer WerkZwei development. The hotel and its adjoining building, containing 18 owner-occupied flats, are located next to the Lakeside development, also constructed by HRS Real Estate AG.

CONCEPT/ARCHITECTUR

The hotel building facing the street offers a spectacular view of Lake Constance. On the ground floor there is a bar, a restaurant and conference rooms. The six floors above contain 63 hotel rooms, with fitness and wellness rooms also included on the top floor.

The hotel operator is Liechtenstein-based company b_smart selection, which runs 18  hotels and motels in a range of locations. The innovative self check-in concept allows guests to book and check in independently around the clock.

The residential building at the northwest end of the construction site has 18 owner-occupied flats with ingenious floor plans, superb fittings and furnishings, spacious outdoor areas and two commercial spaces.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The proximity to Lake Constance meant the need for extensive measures to lower the groundwater. This involved the Wellpoint process : for drainage, lances with vacuum pumps were installed around the excavation pit, which sucked the water out of the ground using negative pressure.

Full displacement piles were driven up to 40 m into the ground and serve as the supporting structure for the buildings.

ENERGY CONCEPT/SUSTAINABILITY

Heat is supplied via underfloor heating. The energy comes from the Morgental Energy Park, which was recognised by the Federal Office of Energy as a lighthouse project of national importance and a model of energy transition. The Morgental Energy Park uses energy from sewage gas, wastewater, waste wood, sun and biomass on the ARA Morgental site.

Domestic hot water for the new buildings is generated via five geothermal probes and a brine-water heat pump. This also provides free cooling in summer.