Residential space is in short supply in the suburban belt surrounding Cologne. A new residential complex in the neighboring town of Frechen, to the west, provides additional housing options. Located in a popular and well-connected area at Toni-Ooms-Straße/Alfred-Nobel-Straße intersection, the new development covers a total area of 5,500 m² with interconnected residential buildings of five to six stories organized in a perimeter block configuration. The complex also includes a five-group kindergarten and an underground parking garage.

​The new residential ensemble is characterized by modern, cubic architecture. Built in solid construction with a flat roof, the design commissioned by housing company GWG Rhein-Erft specified a combination of brick, plaster, and curtain wall facades for the building envelope. The new neighborhood features 82 apartments for singles, couples, and families. GWG placed particular emphasis on creating housing for larger families. Consequently, the new residential quarter includes units ranging from 38 to 107 m² in size, more than half of which are publicly subsidized. The interior finishes are high-quality and contemporary. The well-proportioned units feature vinyl flooring in oak design in the living areas and ceramic tiles in the kitchen sections. The bathrooms are equipped with white tile walls, terracotta-colored ceramic flooring, barrier-free accessible showers or bathtubs, premium fixtures, wall-mounted toilets with modern design and extended reach, and heated towel rails. All rental units feature generous balconies or terraces including floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, and tenant gardens at ground level or rooftop terraces. The apartments are accessible without barriers via eight elevators in total. Additionally, residents have access to 76 underground parking spaces and 82 storage rooms. The courtyard provides ample space for leisure and recreation alongside the kindergarten's outdoor area, the tenant gardens belonging to the apartments, and a play area.

The new complex is heated via a combined heat and power plant. "We are delighted that with our new development project on Toni-Ooms-Straße in Frechen, we have not only created attractive residential space, but also contributed to easing the shortage of childcare places through the integrated kindergarten," explains GWG CEO Klaus Pelzer. Mayor Susanne Stupp adds: "Both the apartments and the educational childcare services are urgently needed at this central location." Planning for the large-scale project began in 2017. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in 2020. The project was completed in the fourth quarter of 2023.

www.gwg-rhein-erft.de

Photos:
Stephan Brendgen Fotodesign
www.stephanbrendgen.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne 03|24)