When multiple households seek to live together under one roof, individual architectural expression often feels constrained: the conventional apartment block—a simple vertical stack of identical units—frequently appears to be the only practical solution. Yet Döring Dahmen Joeressen Architekten DDJ from Düsseldorf has demonstrated another path with their design for a multi-generational family community. The result is a monolithic presence that weaves four distinct residential units into a sculptural composition, drawing on the refined language of classical modernism.

The two-storey restriction imposed by local planning regulations presented a significant design challenge. Rather than fighting the site's topography, the architects worked with it—adding a garden-level floor that tucks partially underground. A central light court ensures this level receives ample natural light and airy living spaces. Two residential units occupy this floor, while the two levels above each house a single family. Staggered floor planes, carefully orchestrated in a geometric order, provide each unit with substantial privacy and generous outdoor areas. An entrance hall with a dramatic two-storey void—complemented by an open staircase—creates a communal heart, fostering interaction among residents. Access to the integrated garages flows naturally from this central space. Every element serves the building's sculptural clarity: no exposed alarms, no surface-mounted fixtures, no visible downpipes interrupt the architectural form. This restraint extends to the interior—internally-drained parapets and recessed window sills demonstrate how rigorously function and form can merge. Floor-to-ceiling glazing dissolves the boundary between interior and garden, creating an expansive spatial experience unmarred by lintels or wall projections. Outside, the landscape's organic curves and rich planting provide a living counterpoint to the building's geometric precision. A continuous mineral-white plaster skin emphasizes the structure's monolithic presence, while iridescent aluminium composite cladding on the garage fronts adds a subtle accent—a visual counterpoint that seems to lift the entire composition.

www.ddj.de

Photography Credits:

Markus Schwalenberg
www.schwalenberg-fotografie.com

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 03|23)