Affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce in Cologne, as in other major German cities. In order to counter the lack of housing and at the same time counteract the increasing shortage of skilled workers, the housing company of Stadtwerke Köln (WSK) is providing high-quality, affordable housing for its approx. 14,500 employees. This is also the case at Hermeskeiler Platz in Cologne-Sülz, where an ensemble of three residential buildings with 41 rental apartments and a daycare center has been built based on designs by the Frankfurt office happarchitecture. At EUR 9.61 per square meter, average rents here are well below the comparable rent for new buildings. The striking architecture, as well as public uses such as a courtyard and a café integrated into the first floor zone, also contribute to the enhancement of the square.

With its weekly market, Hermeskeiler Platz is considered the lively center of Cologne-Sülz and, with its streetcar terminus, a popular residential area. The new four-storey residential and commercial building, which closes the square on the eastern side for the first time, stands out strikingly from the faceless neighboring buildings from the early post-war period. The extremely sculpturally structured south façade orients its five axes towards the square. Striking, profiled segmental arches articulate an arcade in the base zone, creating a sheltered forecourt for the café and bakery integrated into the first floor. The loggias on the residential floors above are grouped together vertically and each closed off by a round arch. This creates spacious, sheltered loggias that are available to the one- to three-bedroom apartments as outdoor space.

The five-storey houses on Hermeskeiler Strasse have a more restrained design, yet are clearly divided into two building units. Facing the street as a classic perforated façade with upright window formats, the apartments open up to the inner courtyard with generously glazed living spaces facing south-east. A plinth faced with light-colored brickwork forms the connecting and at the same time robust foundation to the adjacent public spaces; above this, the facades are plastered and painted in off-white tones. The oak front doors, letterboxes and house numbers made of coated metal create special accents.

The heart of the open space design is the courtyard between the residential and commercial building and the daycare center, which was built on the ceiling of the underground car park. Young children have a variety of play equipment and areas at their disposal here, and the tree-lined recreation area is impressively illuminated in the evening. When it came to the vegetation, attention was paid to robust and heat-resistant planting that requires little maintenance. The roof of the daycare center is extensively greened, and the only windowless façade of the residential and commercial building has a green façade A central local heating station with its own transformer supplies the district, which also includes two other existing buildings, with heat. Two photovoltaic systems also generate 100 percent renewable electricity. Finally, an e-bike sharing service is available to tenants, and there are charging boxes for electric cars in the underground car park. In the future, all parking spaces could be electrified.

www.stadtwerkekoeln.de
www.happarchitecture.de

Photos:
Annika Feuss
www.annikafeuss.com

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|24)