Frankfurt's diplomatic quarter showcases a compelling architectural contrast: sleek modern villas with flat roofs and terraces now share space with traditional two-storey homes featuring hipped and gabled roofs. The modern designs capitalize on their elevated positioning, offering spectacular vistas across the Palmengarten toward Frankfurt's iconic skyline. Hollin + Radoske Architects embraced this unique context when designing a city villa for their clients here—crafting a cubic structure that commands a distinctly different presence from each of its four corners, thanks to its prominent location at the street intersection.

Hand-formed bricks bring emotional depth to the design, softening the severity of the geometric form while creating natural façades that play beautifully against glass and metallic accents. The interplay of varying brick tones, strategically scaled windows, rhythmic facade projections, and sleek black metal panels elevate the clinker structure from monolithic to monumentally expressive. Deliberate shifts in the solid façades work in concert with strategic openings to craft an architectural language that feels both timeless and unmistakably contemporary. "When designing this building with two full stories plus a staggered upper floor, we were intentional about one thing," explains Bernd Hollin: "the staggered level needed to feel like an integrated part of the sculptural form, not simply stacked on top."

A generous entrance flows into soaring interiors anchored by a garden-facing kitchen with dining zone and an adjoining living-dining space—flexibly defined by a room divider. Sliding glass partitions allow the open-plan rooms to adapt as needed. A two-sided fireplace and the centrally positioned staircase with integrated lift core serve as focal spatial elements. The staggered upper floor's second living quarters impress with generous proportions, abundant natural light, and sweeping views. Residents enjoy seamless indoor-outdoor living across every level: the ground floor garden, an expansive loggia on the first attic level, and a sizeable terrace on the staggered floor. The lighting scheme balances minimalist downlights with visible semi-recessed spotlights that articulate the ceiling while delivering soft, flicker-free illumination—ideal for both ambient comfort and accentuating artwork or architectural surfaces. Pendant fixtures and floor and table lamps—a mix of vintage pieces from the client's collection and thoughtfully curated new selections—complete the lighting narrative. Future-proofing was paramount: the architects specified hybrid heating (gas and heat pump systems), controlled ventilation with heat recovery, enhanced insulation, green roofing, and KNX smart electrical systems.

www.hollinradoske.com

Photography:

Gregor Schuster
www.gregorschuster.de

(Featured in CUBE Frankfurt 02|23)