Cubes for Students
Welcoming student housing in eastern Munich
Student housing is scarce in Bavaria's capital city. The newly opened "United Homes Giesing" – a residential complex on the city's eastern edge – goes some way toward addressing this shortage. Completed in spring of last year, the building was designed by architect Jürgen Seifert.
Anchoring the eastern corner of Kager- and Chiemgaustraße along the busy Mittlerer Ring, the new structure represents urban infill at its finest. What was once a fragmented, under-utilized intersection has been transformed—the gap is now closed.
Six above-ground levels accommodate sixty-five apartments of varying sizes, with a third offering barrier-free accessibility. The striking façade immediately commands attention, articulated by a regular rhythm of exposed concrete elements that provide visual privacy. Between them, expansive windows either project outward as cube-like protrusions or sit flush with the building's skin. The footprint from ground level through the third floor spans the building's full length, while the upper floors taper tower-like toward the street corner, creating a dynamic accent. Above the third level, this sculptural reduction opens space for a generous shared roof terrace accessible to all residents. A gently sloped flat roof crowns the composition.
The ground floor features an expansive communal area designed as a social hub—a place to gather, unwind, collaborate, or enjoy entertainment and connection.
Each apartment features a combined living and sleeping area, kitchenette, and bathroom. Wave-shaped balconies wrap around the building's rear facade. Through intelligent, high-density planning, the full floors accommodate up to 15 units while avoiding any institutional feel. Units range from 17 to 37 m². Convenient amenities include a supermarket and fitness studio directly across the street, plus excellent transport connections—both a nearby bus stop and the U-Bahn station at Giesinger Bahnhof, reachable in roughly 15 minutes on foot. The building employs solid construction methods and achieves KfW 55 certification through its exceptional energy efficiency standards.
Photography:
Rainer Taepper
www.rainertaepper.com
(Published in CUBE Munich 01|25)
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