Description

The entire site was divided into long narrow strips, which are somewhat set off from one another. At the same time, each parcel was further divided into two fields of equal width, of which only one was covered, while the other was preserved as an open space. This resulted in a series of single-story bars, each of which defines the boundary to the neighbour.

Altogether 26 m long, all rooms in this ground floor structure open onto the outdoor space, which runs parallel to it. The upper level contains the communal area. Cooking, eating, and living are all combined in one open space, which occupies the entire width of the lot crosswise to the bar on the ground floor. This upper story also projects over part of the open area at ground level, thus creating a sheltered outdoor space below. The living room, which is flooded with light, extends to a patio located on the roof of the single-story slab and offers a lovely view across the entire complex. The complex is surrounded by a protective wall, which unfolds and opens onto the road at four points, thus providing joint access for up to five units and unifying them into a clearly identifiable micro-neighbourhood clustered around a courtyard. From here, exterior stairs lead to roof areas linked by bridges, creating an additional shared outdoor space.

The geometry and the arrangement of the buildings achieve a subtle progression from public space to intimate private sphere, resulting in a dense, horizontal housing scheme.

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Originally published in: Oliver Heckmann, Friederike Schneider (eds.), Floor Plan Manual Housing, fourth revised and expanded edition, Birkhäuser, 2011.