Positioned on the western edge of Hürth-Efferen where fields and meadows meet urban development, Klinkerhöfe is a new residential quarter designed to accommodate around 250 families. The neighborhood combines 70 detached, terraced, and semi-detached homes with ten three- to four-story apartment buildings—creating a diverse housing mix for families, couples, singles, and seniors. What sets these buildings apart is their refined clinker brickwork: a double-shell facade executed with meticulous architectural detail. Designed and realized by Henning Shin Architects in Düsseldorf, the development was commissioned by Bonova Deutschland.

Working within the existing development framework, the team conceived 98 apartments across compact, three- to four-story building volumes. This efficient design yields a favorable surface-to-volume ratio—translating to reduced heat loss and enhanced energy performance. The ten buildings are thoughtfully distributed across three plots in an open urban arrangement, creating visual connections and sight lines throughout the quarter. Each plot features underground parking to manage traffic circulation, while street-facing access ensures clear identity and orientation for all residences. The brick facades employ restraint in ornamentation, yet their impact is considerable. Rolling courses and relief-like banding—achieved through recessed and projecting stone courses—blend classical and contemporary design vocabularies. Through the play of light and shadow, these textural elements give the freestanding volumes a distinctly sculptural quality. The projecting balconies, fitted with integrated sliding panels, serve dual purposes: solar shading and private sanctuary. Thermal performance is equally considered; quality insulation minimizes fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions, while green roofs and external sun protection further enhance sustainability. The landscape design—defined by low hornbeam hedges and soft lawn areas—gracefully distinguishes public walkways and green spaces from private terrace zones.

www.henning-shin.de

Photography Credits:

Sigurd Steinprinz
www.steinprinz.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|23)