Abstract:

Ephemeral Symbiosis is a transformation project in Karlsruhe that rethinks a typical 1970s prefabricated concrete building. Originally efficient but introverted, the structure functioned technically yet lacked spatial and social quality. Instead of demolishing it, we preserved the robust concrete frame as the project’s “hardware” and introduced adaptable additions as “software.”

A lightweight scaffold system is inserted within and around the existing grid. It improves circulation, adds vertical connections, and creates shared activity zones called “cosmos,” distributed throughout the building to encourage everyday interaction. The scaffold expands or contracts seasonally, supporting flexible collective use.

The private “tube” dwellings reorganize the 18-meter depth to maximize light and spatial clarity, placing living areas near the façade and service spaces centrally. Generous shared facilities on lower floors anchor community life.

By reusing structure and adding flexible systems, the project supports sustainability, accessibility, and coexistence, balancing permanence and adaptability through precise, minimal interventions.