Description

Access:

Ground floor with north–south connection between street and courtyard that intersects with the central atrium hall in the interior; combination of vertical point access and central corridor; interior stairwell; access zone lit by windows and skylight.

Interior:

The cross section of the building is subdivided into four parallel vertical strata whose functional and spatial qualities contrast with one another and yet form a unity. The “mixed living and working zone” on the north side allows for multiple use of self-contained rooms. The central access and circulation zone continues in the apartments into the shafts for plumbing and other conduits. The central zone, where the living areas are located, offers open and flexible use. The zoning of the rooms is not intended to be rigid but rather adaptable to the needs of the moment by means of furniture and screens that slide easily. A two-level descent partially separates the central living area from the front stratum, which faces south, and the view out.

Exterior:

Loggias, roof terraces.

Morphology:

The facades are in essence divided into three horizontal layers, formulated differently on the street and courtyard sides. The ground floor and the second floor have larger maisonette apartments. The spatial stratum facing the courtyard to the south, where the loggia spaces are located, has a different facade design and materiality: in contrast to the white plaster and apertures elsewhere, this surface has glass areas and light slits for light as well as perforated “aluminum curtains,” resulting in an interesting play with sun, views, and color.

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Originally published in: Peter Ebner, Eva Herrmann, Roman Höllbacher, Markus Kuntscher, Ulrike Wietzorrek, Typology +: Innovative Residential Architecture, Birkhäuser, 2009.