The prestigious building plot, which the clients wanted to develop with an exclusive apartment building, is located in a prime Rhine location in Rodenkirchen - more precisely between the parish church of St. Maternus and the castle-like "Villa Malta". Kostulski Architekten from Cologne developed a monolithic structure that can be shielded or opened up depending on the situation and impresses with its consistent façade design.

The building regulations in force at the time of planning still required a doubling of the clearance areas for longer buildings. The resulting offset in the 34-metre-long structure also opened up considerable added value in terms of design: the entrance to the building is taken up by a deep, rectangular access courtyard, which forms the entrance to the building, as it were. A gravel surface was embedded in the courtyard, which is completely covered with basalt slabs. The fan-shaped rock pear planted there creates a reduced, minimalist outdoor space. At the end of the courtyard, the cantilevered structure forms a canopy, clearly marking the entrance to the house without being directly visible. The lateral arrangement marks it discreetly without showing it directly. The generous, floor-to-ceiling glazing of the stairwell divides the large building volume into two visible structures. The courtyard and street-side façades were designed to be relatively closed for better sound insulation from the busy main road. In contrast, the Rhine side of the building impresses with its extensive transparency with large window openings and spacious balconies for a total of four residential units. The façade was clad all around with a light-colored, hand-formed water-struck brick that echoes the color of the directly adjacent historic rectory of St. Maternus. The dark grey-brown of the window surfaces creates a harmonious counterpoint. The façade details were designed to reinforce the monolithic overall impression of the building: the concrete window sills were designed to be flush with the surface without any overhang and with internal drainage. The color of the clinker brick joints is precisely matched to the stone color and is also flush with the surface. With the help of various concrete color samples, it was also possible to match the color of the precast concrete parts to the brick color. In order to emphasize the continuity between the interior and exterior, the exterior covering of flamed basalt was continued in the stairwell - here, however, in a polished version. Smooth steel stringers contribute to a calm overall impression - without the usual steel railings.

www.kostulski-architekten.de

Photos:

Uwe Spoering
www.uwespoering.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 02|22)