The gap between the two multi-storey neighboring residential buildings was comparatively narrow. Accordingly, the client wanted a building that would create living space for four parties on each floor - with two owner-occupied maisonette apartments on the two lower floors as well as the two top floors. Kraus Architekten & Ingenieure from Cologne, who were commissioned with the project, planned a compact apartment building that combines barrier-free living quality with flexible room structures.

The building structure with a double storey in the attic is aligned with the two neighboring buildings. The shared boundary walls are supplemented by new walls. Compared to the three-storey neighboring buildings, the new building has four storeys. The street façade is characterized by a cladding of long, flat bricks in shades of grey, which emphasizes the horizontal alignment of the ribbon windows. Only the first floor stands out clearly: next to the building entrance, a steel door front, custom-made by a metal construction company, defines the base view. The innovative, movable sliding elements, which were recently awarded the German Metal Construction Prize 2024, conceal the garage with double parking system, two bicycle spaces and garbage cans. The roof view with dark tile roofing is accentuated by an exposed, cubic dormer, which creates a small exit to the street in the kitchen of the attic maisonette. In order to limit the technical complexity and minimize the space required, all bathrooms and kitchens were connected to a central technical shaft. The elevator was also installed so that it connects directly to the apartments. What was sometimes challenging in terms of planning and implementation has left a lot of freedom in the design of the other rooms: the apartment floor plans can be flexibly adapted to future uses with just a few load-bearing walls. In order to create flowing transitions between inside and outside, the rear of the house was fully glazed and fitted with spacious balconies and terraces - three-part, electronically controlled small-frame sliding windows without a visible floor profile were installed on the ground floor and top floor. As a KfW Efficiency House 55, the building has a heat pump, photovoltaics and a KNX building control system.

www.krausarchitekten.de

Photos:
Marius im Brahm
www.mariusimbrahm.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 01|25)