New heating technology for historic buildings with aquatherm black
Historic buildings tell stories from centuries past and are an important part of our cultural heritage. Renovating them poses a unique challenge: how can modern living standards be achieved while preserving their historic fabric? The Sleeping Beauty House in Weinsberg, Germany, is an outstanding example of how tradition and modernity can be harmoniously brought together. With the integration of the aquatherm black surface heating system, a listed solution was found that perfectly meets the requirements for future-proof building technology.
The Dornröschenhaus, situated at Kirchstaffel 1 in Weinsberg, is a five-hundred-year-old half-timbered building with an eventful history. It was built in 1528 and has undergone numerous alterations and served various purposes over the centuries, including as a vicarage, a town clerk’s office and an artists’ residence. The historic structure is characterised by ornate half-timbered details and Baroque elements, which make the building an architectural gem. Particularly noteworthy is the house’s vaulted cellar, which served as a shelter during the Second World War.
Over the decades, the Dornröschenhaus fell into increasing disrepair until it was eventually threatened with demolition. A demolition date had even already been set. However, the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments required that the building’s condition be documented first. The architectural practice Weinreich in Neckarsulm was commissioned to carry out this documentation and – as luck would have it – staff member Thilo Juhnke-Wild was appointed project manager for the task; he immediately fell in love with the old building and purchased it together with his wife. Working closely with the heritage authorities, he developed a comprehensive renovation plan that both preserves the building’s historic character and enables it to be used as a contemporary home.
The house owes its name to Thilo Juhnke-Wild’s daughter, who was five years old at the time. When the girl saw the house, which was covered in around 30 cubic metres of ivy with stems as thick as a person’s leg, she said: “Mum and Dad, this house is just like Sleeping Beauty! We have to kiss it awake!” As Thilo Juhnke-Wild felt that the name “Altes Pfarrhaus” (Old Vicarage) did not accurately reflect the building’s history given its wide range of uses, the family named the project “Dornröschenhaus” (Sleeping Beauty House).
Heating of the property and use of aquatherm black
In the course of the renovation, the focus was on modernising the heating system to increase living comfort and optimise energy consumption. The choice fell on a pellet heating system and - to distribute the heat to the individual rooms - on aquatherm black. The system from aquatherm was integrated into ceilings, walls, and floors as a surface heating system. It was plastered with clay plaster in ceilings and walls, and installed in the floor as underfloor heating in glass-reinforced cement screed.
“During the renovation of the Sleeping Beauty House, it was important to us to find a heating solution that works efficiently, but at the same time protects the historic building fabric. With aquatherm black, we have achieved exactly that,” says client Thilo Juhnke-Wild.
The use of aquatherm black offers numerous advantages, especially in the renovation of historic buildings. The invisible integration of the heating grids ensures that the aesthetic design of the interiors remains unimpaired. Installation was also minimally invasive, meaning as little as possible interfered with the historic substance of the building. By manufacturing the heating elements in various sizes at aquatherm’s headquarters in Attendorn, South Westphalia, it was possible to adapt the system precisely to the specific requirements of the Sleeping Beauty House.
Advantages of aquatherm black
aquatherm black is a versatile surface heating system that can be flexibly integrated into ceilings, walls, and floors, and can also be used for cooling. Its compact register design allows for easy installation in various building constructions, including drywall, plastered ceilings and walls, or suspended coffered ceilings. The surface temperature of the system can be set just a few degrees above or below the desired room temperature, enabling uniform heating or gentle cooling without draughts or the disturbance of dust.
Another advantage of aquatherm black is its compatibility with efficient heating and cooling systems, such as pellet heating systems. In addition, the system offers a high degree of design freedom, as it remains invisible after installation and therefore does not entail any restrictions on interior design.
Conclusion
The renovation of the Sleeping Beauty House shows how modern heating technologies such as aquatherm black can contribute to the preservation and modernisation of historic buildings. By combining protection of the building fabric and improved living comfort, aquatherm black represents a forward-looking solution for the renovation of existing buildings.
"Thanks to aquatherm black, we were able to invisibly integrate a modern surface heating system into the ceiling, wall, and floor without changing the historic appearance of the building," explains Thilo Juhnke-Wild.
