Forward-looking living concepts are in demand. People who are dependent on outpatient care due to age or illness are particularly keen to find alternatives to care at home. The Essen-based care service Humanitas, located in the old signal box at Zollverein, has recognised this need and recently opened the RevierResidenz, a facility that integrates these people into the community, bringing them out of their isolation at home, while at the same time offering them space for privacy. Around 1,550 m² of living space is available for this purpose, spread over two and a half floors, with 24 rooms, communal areas and a short-term care area. Building on the design plans of an architectural firm, Backes Architekten from Essen took on the task of bringing the new building with its complex requirements to a successful conclusion in the middle of the construction phase, which had already begun. When architect and building expert Jens Backes is asked about the biggest challenge, he doesn't have to think long. "In a facility like this, where people with disabilities live, there are countless requirements to consider so that, in the event of an emergency, there is enough time to evacuate residents who are unable to walk or are bedridden.

Fire protection therefore plays an essential role," he emphasises, pointing out a few details on the building. One requirement, for example, is a flame-retardant façade that can withstand a potential fire for a sufficiently long period of time. A wooden façade is therefore out of the question, unless it is coated with a special multi-layer paint, as is the case here with the larch rhombus formwork. The delicate beige harmonises with the otherwise white, mineral-insulated plaster façade. The legally required external stair towers were developed by a locksmith from Rees and delivered to fit perfectly. Each room has a balcony or terrace. The two residential floors are named "Untertage" (underground) and "Übertage" (above ground) in reference to mining. From the spacious living area, which also serves as a meeting place with its adjoining kitchen, wide corridors lead to the individual rooms, each of which is 17 m² in size and has a barrier-free bathroom and its own balcony or terrace, providing a private retreat. The floors are made of non-slip and durable industrial vinyl in oak decor, and the black-and-white photographs with motifs from the Ruhr area are intended to evoke memories. The penthouse floor houses the facilities for day visitors, with a common room and open kitchen, as well as a roof terrace, therapy and relaxation rooms, such as the Snoezelen room, which can be bathed in different colours using light sources. The turquoise colour of the care service logo is also present in the building, for example in the lift, the stairwell and the upholstery of the furniture. 

www.humanitas.de

Photography Credits:

Claudia Anders
www.anders.ruhr.de

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|23)