PARASITES
with Tillmann Gebauer
A small outbuilding of the Munich University of Television and Film (HFF) has stood unused for years, despite its prime location in the city center. The project explores how this building—originally designed as a film studio—could be repurposed in a resource-efficient and contemporary way.
The result is PARASITES, a redesign that transforms the structure into student housing for international film students. With communal spaces like a shared kitchen and living area, the design fosters collaboration and community. Four rooftop extensions—dubbed "parasites"—add extra bedrooms and expand the original structure.
PARASITES is driven by the intent to use primarily sustainable and locally sourced building materials. The façade is clad with straw bale insulation coated in lime plaster, while the base features gabions filled with pebbles from the Isar River. Circular core drillings create new windows in the existing walls, and the rooftop parasites are built using timber with durable metal cladding.
Inside, the design embraces circular principles, with all furnishings and bathroom fittings crafted from reclaimed materials.