Description

The dense residential complex consists of six compact, cube-shaped residential buildings in an attractive green space, each with an internal circulation and a prominent wraparound balcony layer, which can be completely closed off to its surroundings with copper screen elements. The buildings are offset to one another in a checkerboard pattern so as not to hinder outside views. A network of walkways, small courtyard-like spaces, and gardens on the ground floor form a communal area in the interstitial spaces. The apartments are accessed through a glazed atrium in which the elevator and staircase cores are situated. The sculptural character of this space stands in stark contrast to the rather modular outer appearance of the buildings. Within the apartments, a layer of entrance halls, sanitary, and storage rooms border the atrium, forming a transitional zone that serves both as a spatial buffer and a constructive element. Because the load-bearing walls run parallel and not perpendicular to the facades, the second layer of bedrooms and living areas can be subdivided as desired.

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Originally published in: Oliver Heckmann, Friederike Schneider with Eric Zapel (eds.), Floor Plan Manual Housing, fifth revised and expanded edition, Birkhäuser, 2018.