In 2016, Düsseldorf and its port authorities signed the "Port Agreement," opening the door to residential development in Media Harbour. The "WinWin" project—designed by Cologne-based architects kister scheithaus gross for developer Frankonia Eurobau—marks the first realization of this vision. Two 60-metre residential towers plus an additional six-storey building enliven this popular district while introducing a vibrant new public plaza that transforms the urban landscape.

Each tower accommodates roughly 170 residences up to the 19th floor, with not a single unit facing exclusively north. Both towers access via flood-safe entry from a plaza raised above street level. The square pulses with life thanks to a café bar, central reception, and fitness centre at ground level. Residents reach their bike storage by lift, while the parking garage sits below in the podium. The master plan's restriction on balconies found an elegant solution: a shared garden crowns each tower's top floor. Rather than standard mechanical structures, the 19th storey features a "green living room" for all residents—windshielded with panoramic views that inspire. Wrapped in a green-patinated metal cornice, this communal level creates striking visual contrast in the façade. A subtle stepping detail at the building corners creates a sense that the twin towers lean toward each other, locked in silent dialogue. Clinker bricks in three complementary red tones add sculptural depth and visual richness. The adjacent loft building south employs the same material in subtly different hues, also topped with a shared, protected roof garden. To mitigate nighttime shipping noise and neighbouring commercial activity, all units feature sophisticated French windows that automatically close at 10 p.m. The housing mix—some rent-controlled, some furnished micro-units, some owner-occupied—spans from 30 m² city flats to generous three-room residences. Opening the double-wing, floor-to-ceiling windows transforms every home into a terrace suspended above the city.

www.ksg-architekten.info

Photography Credits:

Ansgar van Treeck
www.am-vantreeck.de
Linus Reich
Frankonia

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 04|21)