The site of the former Muskator Works in Riesa is undergoing transformation.
This industrial area is well connected and lies at the foot of the city, between the urban centre and the Elbe River. Parts of the complex have already been converted into housing; the former boiler house has been transformed into an art space through private initiative. The surrounding open spaces along the Elbe are also intended to become accessible to the public as part of the Elbe Cycle Route network.
On the vegetated strip between the Elbe and the tall volumes of the Muskator buildings stands the former loading facility, known locally as the Stelzenhaus – a narrow industrial structure elevated on reinforced concrete columns, whose architectural potential is the subject of this design course. The building measures only a few metres in width and depth. Its slender body is elevated above the flood level of the Elbe, carried by a substantial concrete substructure. The cladding consists of corrugated metal sheeting mounted on a lightweight steel frame. The proportions and construction give the impression of a massless volume floating above the ground on seemingly immobile and permanent stilts.
It is precisely this structural ambivalence that serves as the point of departure:
At a small scale and in direct response to the site, the course investigates conceptual strategies for the next life cycle of this specific industrial typology. The planned public accessibility of the surrounding area and the inherited machinic character of the building set specific spatial and programmatic conditions.
The aim of the course is to uncover the architectural potential of the site and structure through a concise design investigation. The focus lies on conceptual plausibility, structural clarity, spatial atmosphere, and circular strategies. The task is to develop coherent architectural scenarios that respond to the existing structure and reinterpret its qualities .A particular emphasis lies on the reuse of existing structures and on the integration of embodied energy – the total energy bound within materials and construction – as a design-relevant factor. This analysis takes place in the context of the site’s spatial, historical, and socio-economic conditions. The objective is to formulate strategies for the further development of residual industrial architecture that are ecologically viable, architecturally robust, and culturally grounded.
The preparatory online phase will introduce both theoretical and technical foundations concerning industrial typologies, architectural transformation, and the sustainable reactivation of post-industrial sites. The programme is further enriched by contributions from young practitioners in architecture and art, who will present and reflect on their work in relation to reuse, adaptation, and cultural memory.
The course is aimed at international students in architecture, urban design, and related fields. Design work will take place individually or in small groups and will be accompanied by continuous feedback, discussion, and final presentation.
NOTE:
This course includes an attendance phase in Weimar from March 12 to March 21, 2026.
