Rommelmühle: was planned as an ecological business park combined with living and working opportunities.

The Rommelmühle, a heritage-protected building, was first renovated in 1998 and converted from a former flour mill into what was then the first and only eco-store in the Federal Republic. After the operator concept failed, the building cooperative Bietigheimer Wohnbau acquired the building and between 2003 and 2007 carried out a holistic ecological conversion into a residential and commercial building that integrates living, working, culture and retail. Attractive living within the deep building floor plans was realised through two-storey loft flats. During the conversion, special consideration had to be given to the heritage-protected façade. Thus, additional buildings and new balconies were realised. 

Due to the river location and the former mill function, it was possible to integrate water turbines that now generate electrical energy, which is provided to the city’s network. The waste heat from the turbines also serves as the building’s heating energy. In addition, a combined heat and power plant was installed. The resulting waste heat is used for heating or cooling the restaurant and the organic supermarket, depending on the season. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the renaturation of the riverbank areas. These are publicly  accessible and can be experienced.

General information

ArchitectsJohannes Keller, Huppenbauer + Engel 
OwnerArchy Nova Projektentwicklung GmbH, since 2005 the Baugenossenschaft Bietigheimer Wohnbau owns the former shopping centre
AddressFlößerstraße 60/3, 74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen
Construction periodfirst reconstruction period 1998; second reconstruction 2003- 2007
Constructionmasonry structure
Residentsno information
SpaceBGF 15.000 m2, living area 500 m2

Sources

Archy Nova (n.y.): Ökozentrum Rommelmühle. Retrieved from https://www.archy-nova.de/projekte/rommelmuehle/ (29.09.2021)

mb-netzwerk GmbH (n.y.): Die Rommelmühle. Retrieved from https://rommelmuehle.de (29.09.2021)

Ministerium für Landesentwicklung und Wohnen Baden-Württemberg (n.y.): Bietigheim-Bissingen: Rommelmühle. Retrieved from https://www.baukultur-bw.de/aktiv/initiativen/bauen-und-wohnen-im-bestand/bietigheim-bissingen-rommelmuehle (29.09.2021)

Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH (2021): Sanierung Rommelmühle, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Deutschland. Retrieved from https://transsolar.com/de/projects/refurbishment-rommelmuehle (27.09.2021)