Throughout Frankfurt, modern and historic architecture exist in a compelling dialogue. A Wilhelmine-era apartment building on Untermainkai exemplifies this beautifully—a structure that once served as a hotel, then as office space, and now tells a new chapter in its story. This multi-layered history demonstrates how thoughtful heritage renovation can preserve a building's architectural character while introducing refined, contemporary living spaces in the form of two maisonettes. Kölling Architekten, based in Bad Vilbel, approached this transformation with genuine empathy for both the building's legacy and its future residents, bringing meticulous attention to every detail.

Converting the two upper floors into generous maisonettes required balancing heritage preservation, acoustic performance, aesthetic vision, and practical economics. The architects painstakingly restored the ornate neo-baroque sandstone façade overlooking the Main River—the element that visually unifies the two structures—and faithfully reconstructed the third and fourth-floor windows based on historical records. The main stairwell underwent complete renovation, now extending to the fourth floor through a precisely crafted new staircase. The rear building retains its original servants' staircase as the internal connection between maisonettes, while the front façade features a new wooden staircase that subtly echoes the historic original through its restrained design: black steel railings, oak handrails, and curved treads create a refined dialogue between past and present.

The maisonettes themselves celebrate spacious, light-filled interiors and flowing open-plan living spaces that blur the boundaries between kitchen and living areas. Continuous oak flooring and carefully coordinated soft grey wall tones create a sense of effortless flow throughout. Coordinated terrazzo and cement tiles in the kitchens, bathrooms, and stairwell landings anchor each modern space in the building's historical context, as do the restored baseboards, wall panelling, and plasterwork. Understated white built-in storage and refined heating enclosures complete the interior, infusing the space with quiet, sophisticated elegance.

www.koellingarchitekten.com

Photography:
Moritz Bernoully
www.moritzbernoully.com

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 02|24)