The first electric 35-ton excavator in North Rhine-Westphalia has been in operation at the Hutchinson site in Aachen-Rothe Erde since this Tuesday. The Landmarken family is planning a mixed-use quarter on the former industrial site under the leadership of the ecoPARKS company. A development that will not only meet high sustainability standards in the new build, but also in the demolition phase.
On the former factory site of automotive supplier Hutchinson, which has been vacant since 2020, the existing buildings are currently being demolished to make way for an innovative, productive urban quarter with a wide range of mixed uses. The development, which will combine commercial and residential uses, is being created in close collaboration with sister companies ecoPARKS, Landmarken and Stadtmarken.
The companies involved are striving to reduce CO2 emissions as much as possible, not only in the new construction, but also in the demolition. For example, Laarakkers, which is currently responsible for the demolition work on the site, is using its brand new electric excavator on the Aachen construction site for the first time. The Develon DX355CL Electric is the first 35-tonne electric excavator to be used on a construction site in North Rhine-Westphalia. The machine can be used for up to 10 hours thanks to its replaceable battery.
"We are proud to be pioneers in the field of sustainability in the dismantling industry with the first electric excavator in North Rhine-Westphalia. We want to reduce our CO2 emissions by using state-of-the-art machines, and not just in our machinery. We also take every possible measure to ensure sustainability in the area of building material recovery," says Wiljan Laarakkers, Managing Partner, Laarakkers Rückbau und Recycling GmbH. 98 percent of the demolition material is recycled. A fully electric tipper truck is also used to transport the materials for recycling.
The use of this latest technology fits in perfectly with the sustainability strategy of both companies. One hall on the site has even been completely dismantled as it will be rebuilt elsewhere. In future, it will be located in the Netherlands. "As ecoPARKS, we have set out to establish a new standard in the real estate market for logistics, light industrial, e-commerce and production," says Wilm Schwarzpaul, Managing Partner of ecoPARKS GmbH. "At this location, we can implement our sustainable offer for urban production, which is very well received by many municipalities and is combined here with a transition to residential use."
After initial ideas had already been put forward in a student competition, the well-known Cologne architect Pablo Molestina developed an urban design from this, which is now being developed into a master plan. Aachen's politicians had already given their approval in the fall. "In addition to the design process, we have developed a procedure that includes joint workshops and an advisory team of experts," explains Wilm Schwarzpaul, Managing Director of ecoPARKS GmbH, which will develop a large part of the approximately 30,000 square meter area together with Landmarken. A smaller part will be developed by Stadtmarken GmbH.
A steering committee has been set up to qualify the urban planning design, which includes experts from the fields of urban planning and landscape architecture as well as specialist representatives from Aachen's administration. Local residents have also already been involved in the process and have been able to contribute their ideas. This ensures a high level of planning quality throughout the entire process without any loss of time, which will ultimately benefit the future users and residents of the district in particular.
"A new urban quarter is being created here with a mix of housing, production and commerce - also for companies that need hall space and workshops. Exactly what Aachen needs, and with a high quality of stay," continues Wilm Schwarzpaul. In a grown district that is also characterized by residential areas, this project forms the perfect transition to the large development zone next door: the closed former Continental plant.
