shell construction
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shell construction
The completed basic structure of a building, which already has walls, ceilings, and a roof, but where the interior work such as windows, doors, and installations is still missing.
Der Rohbau des neuen Krankenhauses steht, aber es wird noch Monate dauern, bis es eröffnet wird.
The shell construction of the new hospital is standing, but it will still take months before it opens.
The word is made up of 'roh' (raw/unfinished) and 'der Bau' (the building/construction). Here, 'roh' means 'unfinished' or 'in its basic state'. A 'Rohbau' is therefore literally an 'unfinished building'.
Das Haus ist noch ein Rohbau, aber man erkennt schon die Zimmer.
The house is still a shell construction, but you can already recognize the rooms.
A very common and important phrase is 'Der Rohbau steht' (the shell construction is standing). This means that the basic structure of the building is finished. Other typical verbs are 'einen Rohbau errichten' (to erect a shell structure) or 'den Rohbau fertigstellen' (to complete the shell construction).
Sobald der Rohbau steht, können die Fenster eingebaut werden.
As soon as the shell construction is standing, the windows can be installed.
When the shell construction of a house is finished, a 'Richtfest' (topping-out ceremony) is often celebrated in Germany. This is a traditional celebration with the construction workers to mark an important milestone.
Die Familie lud alle Nachbarn zum Richtfest ein, als der Rohbau fertig war.
The family invited all the neighbors to the topping-out ceremony when the shell construction was finished.
expansion / removal
'der Ausbau' and 'der Rohbau' both belong to construction, but they stand in an important contrast. 'der Rohbau' is the unfinished basic state of a building: the walls, ceilings, and roof are there, but much is still missing inside. 'der Ausbau' here means the work that comes afterward, when interior spaces are completed and fitted out. Learners may confuse the words because both occur on a building site. Remember: first comes the Rohbau, then comes the Ausbau.
Wegen des langen Winters ist der Rohbau noch nicht ganz fertig.
Because of the long winter, the shell construction is not quite finished yet.
Im neuen Haus dauert der Ausbau der oberen Etage noch zwei Monate.
In the new house, the conversion of the upper floor will take another two months.