"Greetings from Heerdt" is written on a postcard that is at least 90 years old. It depicts the former Heerdt town hall, a stately, stately building that was the place to go for all kinds of official business for the people on the left bank of the Rhine at the time. Although the town hall was demolished in 1929, the building still conveys a sense of identity to this day. This prompted Andreas Bahners, a long-established and versatile Heerdter resident, to take a significant step, as did the entire family: With his project development company Bahners & Schmitz and in collaboration with the architectural firm Klobusch, he wanted to bring a significant piece of the city's history back to life for his district and, in particular, its residents.

In keeping with the historic brick architecture, Bahners opted for a reconstruction in the form of an apartment building with seven apartments. Although the former property on the lively Nikolaus-Knopp-Platz - named after the former mayor - is now home to the impressive kinetic sculpture by sculptor Jörg Wiele, an equivalent property was quickly found nearby: At the former village square and spacious intersection of Alt-Heerdt and Pestalozzistraße. Even today, the square-like street space radiates an expanse that is rarely found in the village center, which is otherwise characterized by alleyways.

The façade itself was designed stone by stone as it once was: Round arches, pilaster strips, portals and crosses provide structure, decoration and emphasis. The apartments are modern and clearly furnished and prove to be an appropriate response to the historic façade. White wall and ceiling surfaces and wild oak parquet floors dominate the interiors. The bathroom floors are tiled with large-format tiles in warm earth and anthracite tones. Some of the furnishings were designed as high-quality built-in furniture in white or wood, thus creating a uniform appearance. There is also a modern fitted kitchen with a natural stone worktop in all apartments. In addition to the bright furnishings, large windows ensure that the rooms are flooded with light. A small highlight, hidden away at the top, is the penthouse with its own roof terrace and incomparable views over the Rhine to the Düsseldorf skyline. Without much fuss, the apartment building has integrated itself quickly and very well into the urban environment. This is due to the well-considered planning idea of picking up on the external appearance of its historical predecessor while at the same time making the progress of the present day visible and tangible.

www.klobusch.de
www.bahners-schmitz.com

Photos:

Gordon Bussiek
www.gordonbussiek.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|21)