Today, the site at Bertramsweg 27 in Ratingen gives no hint of the regulatory obstacles that once made it nearly impossible to develop. Yet they were formidable—from stormwater restrictions imposed by the municipal drainage authority to a building ban on subdividing the lot. The rainwater runoff was capped at levels from the original single-family home, and new parcellation was strictly prohibited. Rather than deterring the Bertramsweg 27 building collective, these constraints sparked innovation. Working with a construction financier, Ratingen architect Prof. Manfred Morlock and Atelier Rhein-Ruhr developed an approved design concept: a bold unified structure housing nine maisonettes with the character of urban townhouses.

Residents access the maisonettes via a private drive lined with apple trees. Three steps from the path lead across an east-facing wooden terrace to each of the 4.10 m wide units. The distinctive green, west-sloping roof creates a three-level experience on the garden side, while maisonettes facing the entry feature two levels. An open staircase at the house's core connects these split-level floors, allowing morning light to flood through the entire space. The design ensures continuous daylight: as the sun moves across the sky—from morning through to evening—the homes remain bathed in natural light. The kitchen and dining area define the entrance, and when combined with the wooden terrace, they create a dual-facing living space that bridges interior and exterior seamlessly.

The garden—framed by mature trees and a continuous hornbeam hedge—comprises nine individual units with exclusive use rights. Rather than traditional fencing, the design incorporates green, heat-retaining concrete walls positioned between terraces, providing privacy without visual barriers. The façade strikes a warm, welcoming tone through grey-stained Black Forest silver fir boarding paired with wood-aluminium windows, creating a cohesive aesthetic for the entire complex.

Photography Credits:

Markus Luigs
www.bueroluigs.de
Kay Yoshimatsu

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 03|21)