der
Rohbau
🏗️ What exactly is a Rohbau?
Der Rohbau refers to the state of a structure (usually a building) where the essential external and load-bearing parts are completed, but the interior finishing is still missing. You could say it's the 'skeleton' or 'shell' of the house.
Typically, this includes:
- The foundation (das Fundament)
- The load-bearing walls and ceilings (die tragenden Wände und Decken)
- The roof (das Dach), often already tiled to protect the interior from the weather.
Windows (Fenster), doors (Türen), insulation (Dämmung), interior plaster (Innenputz), plumbing (Sanitärinstallationen), and electrical installations (Elektroinstallationen) are usually not part of the Rohbau, but belong to the finishing stage (der Ausbau).
The word is masculine, it's always der Rohbau.
🧐 Grammar: Declining 'der Rohbau'
The noun 'Rohbau' is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der | Rohbau |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Rohbaus / Rohbaues |
| Dative (To whom?) | dem | Rohbau |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den | Rohbau |
Plural
The plural 'die Rohbauten' is used less frequently but is grammatically correct when referring to multiple unfinished buildings.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rohbauten |
| Genitive | der | Rohbauten |
| Dative | den | Rohbauten |
| Accusative | die | Rohbauten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das Haus steht bereits im Rohbau. (The house is already in the shell stage.)
- Die Kosten des Rohbaus waren höher als erwartet. (The costs of the building shell were higher than expected.)
- Nach dem Rohbau beginnt der Innenausbau. (After the shell construction, the interior finishing begins.)
- Wir besichtigen morgen den Rohbau unseres zukünftigen Hauses. (Tomorrow we will visit the shell of our future house.)
- In der neuen Siedlung sieht man viele Rohbauten. (In the new development, you can see many building shells.)
🛠️ When and How to Use 'Rohbau'?
The term 'Rohbau' is mainly used in the construction industry (Bauwesen) and the real estate sector (Immobilienbranche).
- Construction Phases: It describes a specific phase in building construction, following groundwork (Erdarbeiten) and preceding interior finishing (Innenausbau).
- Cost Calculation: Construction companies (Baufirmen) and architects (Architekten) often divide construction costs (Baukosten) into shell costs (Rohbaukosten) and finishing costs (Ausbaukosten).
- Contracts: Construction contracts (Bauverträge) precisely define which services are included in the Rohbau.
- Real Estate Listings: Sometimes properties are sold 'im Rohbau', meaning the buyer must handle (or commission) the interior finishing themselves.
Distinction: 'Der Rohbau' is not the same as 'die Baustelle' (the construction site) or 'das Fundament' (just the foundation). It describes the state of the unfinished building itself.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Rohbau'
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Bau (the building/construction). A Rohbau is a type of 'Bau', and 'Bau' is masculine. So: der Rohbau.
Meaning Mnemonic: 'Roh' means 'raw' or 'rough'. A Rohbau is therefore a rough building, not yet refined and finished. Imagine a 'raw' structure.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Fertigbau: (Finished building) - A completely finished building.
- Schlüsselfertigbau: (Turnkey building) - A building handed over ready for occupancy.
- Ausbauhaus: (Shell house for finishing) - A house where the shell (Rohbau) is complete, but the buyer does the interior finishing (can be a Rohbau, but emphasizes the sales model).
Related Terms (Context):
- Richtfest: (Topping-out ceremony) - A celebration often held after the roof structure (part of the Rohbau) is completed.
- Innenausbau: (Interior finishing) - All work following the Rohbau (heating, plumbing, electrical, plaster, flooring, etc.).
- Baustelle: (Construction site) - The place where the Rohbau (and later the finishing) takes place.
😂 A Little Construction Joke
Fragt der Bauherr den Architekten: „Ist mein Haus schon wetterfest?“
Antwortet der Architekt mit Blick auf den Rohbau: „Keine Ahnung, aber es regnet schon mal nicht rein – nur durch!“
Translation: The client asks the architect: "Is my house weatherproof yet?"
The architect, looking at the building shell, replies: "I don't know, but at least it doesn't rain in – only through!"
📜 Poem about the Rohbau
Mauern stehen, kalt und kahl,
Der Rohbau grüßt aus dem Tal.
Das Dach ist drauf, der Wind weht durch,
Noch fehlt der Glanz, der letzte Furch'.
Doch Stein auf Stein, mit Plan und Fleiß,
Wird bald ein Heim, ganz warm und leis'.
Translation:
Walls stand, cold and bare,
The Rohbau greets from the valley there.
The roof is on, the wind blows through,
Still missing the shine, the final hue.
But stone by stone, with plan and diligence shown,
Soon becomes a home, warm and quietly known.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe Wände, doch kein Bild daran.
Ich habe ein Dach, doch wohnen kann man noch nicht dran.
Fensterlöcher gähnen leer,
Wer bin ich wohl, sag es mir sehr!
Translation:
I have walls, but no picture on them.
I have a roof, but you can't live in me yet.
Window holes yawn empty and bare,
Who am I, tell me if you dare!
Solution: Der Rohbau (The building shell)
🧩 Further Details on Rohbau
Word Composition: The word 'Rohbau' is a compound noun, composed of:
- roh: Meaning 'raw', 'unfinished', 'rough' here.
- Bau: Refers to the building (Bauwerk) or the act of building (here, the result).
Cultural Context: The term highlights the traditional separation of construction phases in Germany, where different trades (Gewerke) often work sequentially. Completing the Rohbau is a significant milestone (Meilenstein) in the building process, often marked by a Richtfest (topping-out ceremony).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rohbau?
The word 'Rohbau' is masculine: der Rohbau. It refers to the unfinished structural shell of a building, where the basic structure (walls, ceilings, roof) is complete but interior finishing is lacking.