Conversion of heat pump at Rickenbach mill
The mill in Rickenbach was first mentioned in a document in 1405. The mill's residential building was rebuilt in 1736 and stabilised with solid concrete pillars under its foundations between 1987 and 1989. From 2015, further subsidence of the foundations became apparent, which is why a new, light arbour made of glass and wood was erected on a load-bearing foundation slab on piles. The replacement of the arbour overlapped with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions from the mill's heating system. To this end, the gas heating system was to be replaced by a heat pump based on geothermal energy.
The heat pump with its technical pipes for the circulation of the water circuits was to be placed visibly in the mill garden to emphasise the technical and organic functions as a unit. These objectives were to be fulfilled by a transparent housing for the heat pump, a crystalline glass body with a light, internal supporting structure to protect the heat pump from the winter cold and summer heat.
Aare Limmat Elektro AG was commissioned to carry out the complete electrical installations. The entire electrical installation was newly installed and corresponds to the current state of the art.