With this apartment building, architect Annika Schwarz proves that affordable housing needn't sacrifice individuality. Across just under 500 m² of living space, she designed four residential units with thoughtfully planned open floor plans. Storage areas, positioned as central cores in each unit, double as wardrobe niches. The contemporary kitchenettes feature a soft grey finish with clean lines and handle-free surfaces—each one custom-designed by the practice. Warm-toned parquet flows through the living areas into the kitchen, grounding the naturally bright rooms with their abundant windows. Generous balconies and garden-facing terraces blur the line between indoor and outdoor living for all residents. Rather than the predictable grey granite and stainless steel, the building welcomes occupants with pale tiles and surfaces, black fixtures, and bespoke steel railings. Externally, with a gross volume of approximately 2,100 m², the structure reads as a clean, cubic form crowned with a flat roof. White-framed windows punctuate the street-facing façade. Carefully placed recessed lighting, thoughtfully coordinated floor and wall finishes, and a cohesive colour palette unify the interior and exterior. Notably, the architects eliminated an expensive basement by locating technical systems on the ground floor and integrating storage directly into the residential units.

To heat this KfW 55 efficiency building via underfloor systems, the team selected an indoor air-to-water heat pump—eliminating the need for an exterior unit on the street-facing elevation. A photovoltaic array crowns the flat roof, supplying electricity to the building and, through wall boxes, to residents' electric vehicles.

www.atelier-schwarz.com

Photography:
Annika Schwarz

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 03|23)