On one of Krefeld's most coveted sites, Von Houwald Architects has realized an exceptional residential building: ten exclusive units and an underground garage, unified by a distinctive architectural language. Interlocking and staggered cubic forms create a contemporary homage to the modernist tradition.

Nestled among single and two-family homes with pitched gable roofs, the developer sought to maximize the site's potential. The plot's generous width called for an elongated footprint running parallel to the street. Yet the building's scale needed to respect its neighbors. The architects addressed this with an ingenious solution: a soaring, transparent stairwell bisects the structure into two distinct masses, each echoing the proportions of surrounding homes. The staggered floor plates simultaneously reference the adjacent rooflines while creating private south-facing terraces. Positioning the car park ramp nearly at center—complete with an integrated lift—establishes a generous buffer to neighboring properties, freed for landscaping. The façade strikes a compelling balance: timeless clinker brick, fired in North Rhine-Westphalia's last active ring kiln by Gillrath in Erkelenz, combines with expansive glazing to dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior. Slender black steel terrace railings echo the stairwell's minimalist vocabulary, while asymmetrically arranged windows animate the elevation with visual rhythm. Generous outdoor terraces beckon occupants into the light, supported by materials of uncompromising quality. The integrated car lift underscores the building's exclusive character. Year-round comfort is assured through geothermal heat pumps with integrated cooling—a seamless climate control system for every season.

www.gillrath.de
www.houwald.de
www.bauformart.com

Photography:
Simon Erath
www.erath-fotografie.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 03|24)