In the middle of an existing housing estate in Stockum, a real estate company had acquired a plot of land that was to be redensified in order to build upscale rental apartments. The focus was not only on achieving as much living space as possible, but also on creating the broadest possible mix of different apartments. E2 architekten from Meerbusch, who were commissioned with the design and implementation planning, developed three cubic structures that accommodate a total of over 19 different types of apartments and yet combine to form a uniformly designed ensemble in the middle of the partially preserved tree population.

The development plan, which permitted a maximum of two full storeys, posed a particular challenge. In order to create as much living space as possible, the first floor level was raised by half a storey. This resulted in basement floors that are not full storeys under building law, but are still well lit thanks to generous excavations and floor-to-ceiling windows. In order to avoid having just basement apartments, these living spaces were combined with the first floor apartments above to create maisonettes. The top floor was also planned as a staggered storey, so that the specification of two full storeys could actually be implemented with four inhabited storeys. The three new buildings are each accessed via an intermediate landing located between the ground floor and basement. Barrier-free access made a two-sided elevator necessary. The underground car park benefits from split-level access and only had to be located half a storey below the basement level. The surroundings, characterized by plaster buildings, made a façade design with plaster surfaces seem obvious. For fire protection reasons, the thermal insulation composite system underneath was not made of polystyrene - as is often the case - but of high-quality mineral wool. As the large areas of glazing in the stairwells could only be realized with an aluminium mullion and transom façade, all the windows were fitted with high-quality aluminium frames to ensure uniformity. The 20 apartments, measuring between 66 and 155 m² in total, boast high-quality interior fittings with oak floorboards, porcelain stoneware floor tiles and smoothly filled wall surfaces. The lift-and-slide doors to the spacious balconies have been fitted with external blinds to provide protection from the sun and privacy. Heating is provided by a geothermal heat pump, whose 46 geothermal lances are operated without antifreeze additives due to the location in a water conservation area. A fireplace has also been integrated into the largest penthouse apartment.

www.e2architekten.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|21)