What begins as casual conversation between neighbours can evolve into something remarkable: an architectural commission, a property exchange, and a home that enriches both its residents and the surrounding environment. In Essen's Heidhausen district, a homeowner faced a troubling prospect—the verdant green space beside his house threatened to become an extended car park for the adjacent supermarket. Rather than accept this loss, he envisioned acquiring the plot, building a senior-friendly residence there, and simultaneously solving the supermarket's parking needs. This collaboration would benefit everyone involved.

Architect Mark Altgassen orchestrated strategic meetings, bringing developers, neighbours, and municipal authorities together to explore a property swap. The arrangement proved essential—and genuinely beneficial for all parties. The planned residential building would gain access to the verdant grove as recreational space, while the supermarket could construct additional, improved parking facilities on its new site. Once the proportional land exchange was agreed upon, Altgassen navigated the necessary formalities and designed both the new car park with integrated tree planting and the residential building itself.

The senior-friendly design strategy maximizes the location's potential: residents can easily reach the supermarket, then return with their shopping trolley directly to the lift and into their own kitchen. With just twelve units, the community remains intimate and neighbourly. An on-site medical practice further enhances the residents' quality of life.

The design translates the principle of "living well in later years" into compelling architectural form. A striking base structure and rhythmic façade treatment—combining rendered surfaces with clinker brick—establish visual clarity. Carefully considered details reinforce this character: lively water-struck clinker, recessed brick courses, and grenadier layers framing the windows, complemented by warm wooden slat accents. Inside, a cohesive colour palette of orange and green, carried through the stairwells and around the glass lift core, provides both wayfinding and a sense of place. Every flat is threshold-free and thoughtfully proportioned for aging in place, with generous south-facing balconies overlooking the natural surroundings.
The building's innovative systems reflect the developer's own expertise in technical trades. A geothermal heat pump and rooftop photovoltaics power the structure efficiently. Combined with a controlled ventilation system featuring heat recovery in each unit, the building achieves the exacting KfW 55 energy efficiency standard—ensuring it remains viable for generations to come.

www.altgassen-architekt.de

Photography Credits:

Frese Photography
www.peter-frese.de

Elke Schmidt
www.fotografie-elke-schmidt.de

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|19)