Description

The block at the end of the Borneo peninsula – monolithic in appearance at first glance – is divided into 26 “back-to-back“ row houses with varying layouts. The basic crosswall construction is treated with great variety, resulting in eleven different 2–4-story unit types. The differing heights and recesses, introduced in the interest of lighting, are form-defining giving the complex an image of being simultaneously anonymous and animated. The complex is divided into two sections: the north elevation with an urban brick facade and the south elevation with a maritime timber facade. Each unit has direct access from the street and to the shared underground garage.

The variety of open spaces, allocated to each unit, is especially notable. The homes on the south elevation have a veranda at the entrance, a large roof terrace, and a patio on the second floor. The patios are paved in glass-brick elements to allow light to penetrate into the 13-m-deep living area on the ground floor below. In the units along the north elevation, this glass ceiling is partially raised by one half story height, investing the living room with a lofty height of 5.7 m.

The units on the north elevation are oriented toward the interior of the development, overlooking patios with small lawns. The 3–5-room end units are unique in layout; however, all feature a terrace on the 4th floor. One unit even rises to 5 levels, projecting above the remaining complex. All units benefit from a stunning view across the water that surrounds the development on three sides.

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