Hybrid Habitat

Hybrid architecture emerges as the solution to reconciling the perceived contradictions between human urbanity and ecological stability, where high-tech and natural functions are creatively resolved and even mutually enhance each other. “Hybrid places reflect the growing complexity of our world, explains LAVA Partner Alexander Rieck, “On one hand, people are exploring quantum computing, while on the other, they are returning to their roots and growing tomatoes. You can experience the power of technology yet still remain grounded in reality."

LAVA brought this thinking to a competition design for a new mixed-use master plan for the former IBM site on the edge of Ehningen, close to Stuttgart, located between the town center, a sports facility, and a bucolic landscape park. The design evolves the once private and purely commercial site into a welcoming public-facing village of up to eight building clusters interwoven with green spaces, combining residential, offices, nature, and urban qualities. “In this scenario, the context was rural, yet in juxtaposition, there stood the most innovative campus for quantum computing, attracting technology experts from across the globe,” says Rieck.

Drawing from this unique context, LAVA envisioned the quantum computer as the central nucleus, radiating energy and sharing it with the community. The master plan design seamlessly integrates high-quality workspaces with a vibrant village atmosphere, aiming to attract new residents and businesses. Unlike a sleepy village of detached villas and two-car garages, this is a close-knit, participatory neighborhood with a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting to the town. Its shared green public spaces connect a kindergarten, sports facilities, community resources, and the surrounding landscape—an approach also applied to LAVA’s design for the Synergy Park in Lingen.

The village ambiance is rich with a complex interplay of vibrancy and activity that meets users’ changing needs. Within each building, the ground floors seamlessly adapt to a myriad of functions, from culinary experiences to collaborative workspaces, creative studios, and communal hubs, fostering an environment of dynamic interaction, organic exchange, and collective engagement. Each cluster unveils its own outdoor oasis, from an inviting 'urban beach' to expansive 'common land.' These social nodes seamlessly connect through winding pathways, weaving through a lush green corridor and identifying urban space that was previously inaccessible to the public. Sporting amenities and a rainwater management system, including terrain modeling for flood-resistant seating steps, enhance both recreation and resilience in this adaptable setting.