In densely built urban areas where developable land grows scarcer by the day, smart solutions for modern, flexible living in compact spaces have never been more valuable. The Berswordt Quarter represents one of Dortmund's largest inner-city residential developments—transforming a former parking lot into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood across a 10,900 m² site. The project delivers 26,600 m² of living space, comprising 365 furnished micro-apartments and 222 premium rental units, complemented by ground-floor retail, an underground garage with 200 spaces, and a thoughtfully designed courtyard. Developed by Hamburg-based MPP Meding Plan + Projekt, the scheme employs a perimeter block structure that harmonizes with its historic context. Named after a prominent Dortmund aristocratic family, the Berswordt Quarter sits strategically near the University of Applied Sciences, the exhibition grounds, and BVB Stadium in the Kreuzviertel district.

For this predominantly seven-story complex, the architects devised a scheme with a near-triangular footprint that responds gracefully to the surrounding street pattern. To the north and east, the new construction sits alongside two substantial hotel buildings clad in red and white clinker brick; to the south, the narrow grey clinker ribbon of Borussia Dortmund's headquarters completes the urban frame. "To create visual continuity among these distinct buildings, we articulated the massing through carefully differentiated materials and prominent recessed volumes in the upper stories," explains architect Jan-Oliver Meding. "Each structure reads as a distinct entity with its own character, yet the overall composition integrates seamlessly into the existing urban fabric." The selection of multi-colored clinker brick slips was developed in close partnership with the city's design review board, drawing inspiration from the district's industrial heritage and surrounding masonry traditions. Dortmund's requirement that the corner building's palette reference the black facade of the nearby BVB headquarters led to collaborative trials between client and manufacturer, yielding a custom assortment of red, beige, grey, and peat tones. Clinker slips in varying thicknesses, layered colors, and staggered bond patterns—combined with inset plaster panels—create a refined, subtly textured façade. Green roofs enhance the microclimate, while select units open to private balconies overlooking the protected courtyard, which features planted islands, a children's play area, and generous gathering spaces.

www.mpp.de

Photography:
Jan-Philip Kongste
www.kongste-architekturfotografie.de

(From CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|21)