At the corner site of Voedstraße and Friedrich-Ebert-Straße in Bochum-Wattenscheid, Nattler Architekten from Essen has completed a residential development for VBW Bauen und Wohnen that integrates 54 apartments, a bakery, additional commercial space, and a social services facility—all on the ground floor.

Sitting on a 3,452 m² plot that once hosted a municipal school, this development occupies a highly visible location. The centerpiece—a U-shaped building featuring an underground car park, ground floor, and five storeys—faces the busy Friedrich-Ebert-Straße. The wings step down to three or four storeys, creating a hierarchical composition. Along Voedestraße, the building breaks from the street's gentle curve, adopting instead a straight alignment that opens up an expanding green space on private grounds—a shift that preserved the beautiful lime trees. Here, a bakery tucks its terrace beneath the tree canopy while residents enjoy both visual and acoustic distance from street activity. The U-shaped footprint encloses a three-sided, landscaped courtyard with dedicated play and gathering areas, framing a park-like vista beyond. Numerous apartments orient their balconies toward this tranquil inner sanctum. The street façade features clinker brick in three graduated earth tones, articulating the building's stepped silhouette. Floor-to-ceiling windows echo an oak timber finish to harmonize with the façade. The courtyard façade transitions to sand-coloured plaster, subtly reprising the street-side palette.

The 54 units range from two to six rooms, spanning 69 to 127 m², with 16 publicly subsidized and 38 privately financed. Three subsidized units meet full wheelchair accessibility standards. Every apartment features naturally lit spaces, naturally ventilated bathrooms, and flexible kitchens. Four-room units and larger come equipped with a guest toilet. Five bright, generously proportioned stairwells—each with a dedicated lift—provide barrier-free access to all units, the courtyard, basement car park, private storage, shared storage for prams and walkers, technical facilities, and communal laundry rooms. The spacious underground car park contains 32 partially accessible parking spaces and 51 bike racks, accessed via Voedestraße. A pedestrian passage adjacent to the entrance leads directly into the car-free courtyard. Additional bike parking in the outdoor areas, along with waste facilities, is visually screened by green hedging. From initial planning to final handover, the project spanned three years.

www.nattlerarchitekten.de

Photography:
Axel Hartmann | Nattler Architects
www.ah-fotografie.de

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|25)