Located at Pfleghofstraße 4/1 in Tübingen's old town, this late-classical residential and commercial building was renovated and expanded by Dannien Roller Architekten + Partner with a single-storey extension. Positioned directly adjacent to the historic Pfleghof, the firm now occupies both the historic structure and the new addition. A expansive window façade facing Pfleghofstraße provides transparency and opens directly into a two-storey reception area. The retail space reveals a layered sequence of spaces through open timber framing, embodying the architects' vision of an open, egalitarian office landscape.

A descending staircase leads to the mezzanine level, which serves as the connective spine to the extension. Realizing this connection required lowering the original building's floor slab during renovation. The mezzanine accommodates technical systems, sanitary facilities, and the kitchen, while the new structure houses the library, conference areas, and offices. The spaces share a refined restraint throughout. Walls in the historic section feature tinted rough plaster, while exposed raw masonry dominates the new wing with its deliberately raw aesthetic. Strategic colour accents—a neon yellow kitchen counter, brass railings, and silver curtains—create a vibrant counterpoint to the architecture.

The new extension, angled toward Mühlstraße, distinguishes itself from the historic building through bold contemporary forms. Yet it does so respectfully, echoing the site's history and integrating seamlessly into its historical fabric.

The open courtyard references Tübingen's urban grain, weaving private and public domains together. Generously proportioned windows punctuate the façade, framing views toward the Österberg. The textured plaster in restrained multicolour tones echoes the natural stone walls of the Schulberg terraces and Pfleghof. The extension's tiered form and green roof create visual complexity, anchoring the sculptural volume into the hillside's topography—a gesture that makes it read as an inevitable part of the existing urban landscape.

www.dannien-roller-architekten-partner.de

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|21)