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An architectural statement for Chemnitz, Germany with sustainable aluminium from Novelis

November 4, 2025
Aluminium façade with >90% recycled content combines design and functionality 

In the heart of Chemnitz, this year’s European Capital of Culture, the Johanniskarree has emerged as a forward-looking building complex that unites urban diversity and modern architecture. Spread across nine levels, the project includes retail spaces, a health center, a training facility, a hotel, and residential units. It is a development that significantly shapes the urban evolution of the region. 

Sustainability Meets Design

As a global leader in sustainable aluminium solutions, Novelis is proud to have contributed to the façade design of this exceptional construction project. Large-format aluminium panels with a thickness of 3 millimeters were used for the ventilated curtain façade. These panels were made from billets with a guaranteed recycled content of at least 90%, including both pre-consumer and post-consumer material. The project exemplifies circular economy principles and the “Cradle to Cradle” approach that Novelis has consistently pursued for years.

“As a partner to the construction industry, we are committed to ensuring that our materials not only enable design freedom but also actively contribute to climate protection. Aluminium recycling saves 95% energy and emissions compared to primary aluminium,” emphasizes Jörg Pollmann, Sales Lead Specialties, Novelis Europe.

Picture: SCHRAG Fassaden GmbH

Pictures: SCHRAG Fassaden GmbH

Premium Materials for an Elegant Appearance

Novelis HRC57S®, anodized aluminium, was used for the facade design of the Johanniskarree, serving as the basis for the powder coating in this project. HRC57S® provides an outstanding AlMg1 quality for decorative batch anodizing with superior bending and non-combustible properties. Approximately 75 tonnes of aluminium were installed across an area of around 3,500 square meters, contributing significantly to the building’s elegant appearance.

Precision in Planning and Execution

Together with bhss Architekten from Leipzig, SCHRAG Fassaden GmbH  developed the distinctive geometry of this curtain façade and translated the architecture into a 3D model for detailed planning and installation. Both the substructure of the bolt-hung façade and the production of the parametrically folded cassettes were carried out at SCHRAG Fassaden’s Chemnitz facility. The result is an elegant, almost timeless façade that impresses not only with its design but also highlights the performance of sustainable aluminium products. 

A Showcase for Sustainable Construction

For Novelis, this project is a prime example of how aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability can be successfully combined. The aluminium solutions used demonstrate how resource-efficient construction and sophisticated architecture can go hand in hand.

The Johanniskarree stands as a visible symbol of the potential of sustainable building concepts. With its materials, Novelis helps shape the development of this project and leaves a lasting mark on the cityscape of Chemnitz. 

For more Information also read: Heinze Architekten-Newsletter KW 45/2025 here.

Novelis Inc. is driven by its purpose of shaping a sustainable world together. We are a global leader in the production of innovative aluminium products and solutions and the world’s largest recycler of aluminium. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of low-carbon, sustainable aluminium solutions and to achieve a fully circular economy by partnering with our suppliers, as well as our customers in the aerospace, automotive, beverage can and specialties industries throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Novelis had net sales of $17.1 billion in the fiscal year 2025. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminium and copper, and the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai. For more information, visit novelis.com.