Residential buildings

Urban development

The architectural status quo (with individual buildings along the street creating structure) has largely been preserved.

Some of the buildings with dimensions of ca. 30 m have been consolidated, and structured proportionately by the use of gaps between the buildings.  By this means, topographical circumstances can also be taken into account (gaps as linking features which compensate for differences in height).

The construction plan relates primarily to the area between Ulmenweg and Birkenweg.  The restructuring of this urban district, which has already begun, is continuing across the blocks.  A self-contained new quarter is emerging, which is in tune with its environment.  Work has begun on the structure of the buildings, which has been thematically varied and modified, although the dimensions of the selected basic type are being retained (3 floors + attic with pitched roof).

This variation obviates the risk of monotony, and creates tension (‘unity takes many forms’).

The result is clearly contoured buildings with surface-treated perforated façades, which, despite having their own architectural language, are in tune with the existing fabric and a continuation of the type of the pilot projects in the form canon.

Residential buildings

An essential component of the urban development objective was that, whilst observing the financial criteria for a new development, social heterogeneity was required to revitalise the quarter.

It was for this reason that the standard layout selected for the pilot project (3-room apartments with ca. 70 m² floor space) was to be retained as a practical, easily rentable basic type.  Partly as a result of the necessity for architectural variation, however, it is also proposed to include smaller (2-room) apartments and larger (4 or 5-room) apartments.  To the south of Ulmenweg in particular, a form of construction was chosen which would allow the elderly and disabled to live on any of the floors (2-room apartments with a lift).  The residential complex for elderly tenants in the interior of the block might possibly be replaced by such housing in the medium term.

More expensively designed solitaire buildings would be located to the north of Ulmenweg, which, as well as having a more lavish layout, would also ensure visual and spatial access to the interior of the block (housing for the elderly).

Costs could be minimised by employing a company from outside the region, whose bid was some 30% less than that of local firms.