Sustainable Membrane for Roof in Berlin School | Elevate EMEA

Elevate has a 40-year legacy of proven experience in roofing solutions that perform reliably and protect communities. Elevate's RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane was used in the extension of the Free Waldorf School in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin.

In 2015, the German architectural practice MONO Architekten was commissioned with the redevelopment of the Free Waldorf School to extend the original prefabricated building from the 1970s and create an after-school building.

For the new structure, architects at MONO chose to depart from the school's original style and use contemporary shapes instead. Their design for the new after-school center consists of a cluster of curved pentagonal volumes of different sizes and heights, with the roof slopes going in different directions. Topped with green roofs, the overall effect is reminiscent of lush mossy stones.

© Mono Architekten / Gregor Schmidt

The project focused on sustainability, with MONO Architekten using natural and renewable materials whenever possible. The extension structures are timber-framed and the walls are built from straw and clay plaster. The exterior cladding consists of untreated larch wood planks of various widths, creating a serene atmosphere. The extensive 450 m² green roof further supports sustainability by providing natural spaces and is waterproofed by Elevate’s RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane.

Green roofs also help mitigate the “urban heat island effect”, and provide thermal and sound insulation, making them particularly beneficial for school settings. For the Free Waldorf School extension, a mix of low-growing herb grasses was chosen for the vegetation, offering a colorful display during the flowering season and attracting beneficial insects, thus enhancing local biodiversity.

© Mono Architekten / Gregor Schmidt

The EPDM's sustainable features have been acknowledged by various institutions and environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, GreenTeam, and the Dutch Institute for Building Biology and Ecology (NIBE). NIBE has recognized it as the roofing membrane with the least environmental impact, providing a durable, long-term solution. This membrane was chosen for the Free Waldorf School due to its single-ply nature, allowing it to easily adapt to irregular shapes without saturating or breaking. It can also be used in various climates and installed by full adhesion, mechanical attachment, or ballasting.

Finalized in June 2017, this project was honored as one of the winners of Germany’s Federal Timber Construction Plus 2018 competition in the "Public Building - New Buildings & Existing Buildings" category. This competition, sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, recognizes exemplary buildings made with renewable raw materials. Additionally, this project was nominated for the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) Award for Architecture 2020, one of Germany's most prestigious architecture awards.