The Heerdt district, particularly the formerly industrial zone south of Hansaallee, has undergone significant urban transformation in recent years. The former industrial properties once occupied by Schiess and Impress, situated between Hansaallee and Willstädter Straße to the south and Böhlerstraße to the west, have progressively evolved into an attractive residential quarter. The master plan for the "Vierzig549" development was established in 2013 when nps tchoban voss, in collaboration with JKL Landschaftsarchitekten from Georgsmarienhütten, won the urban design competition. prasch buken partner architekten, which emerged from the Hamburg-based architecture firm nps in 2015, advanced the project further and have subsequently assumed responsibility for the building design of individual development sites.

The mixed-use character of the district inspired a distinctive master planning strategy: defining the 12-hectare residential quarter as an inward-focused community. The centerpiece is a sprawling central park anchored by a substantial lake—a design that creates inviting public spaces while managing rainwater runoff during heavy storms. Four distinct residential zones flank the lake and a new circulation route, where staggered apartment blocks up to six storeys frame open block perimeters. The interiors feature three- to five-storey terraced and townhouses, creating a layered hierarchy that shields quiet, pedestrian-priority courtyards from vehicle traffic. Parking is ingeniously hidden: mostly in underground structures, with commercial parking consolidated in a dedicated garage on the site's southeastern edge. A five-classroom kindergarten anchors the lakeside park, while a tree-lined "Broadway" promenade—stretching diagonally from the cinema at Hansaallee to Willstädter Straße—activates ground floors with shops, cafés, and restaurants alongside residential units and services above. A thirteen-storey residential tower marks the intersection of lake and promenade, serving as a striking gateway to the quarter. Since mid-2016, a joint venture between Die Wohnkompanie NRW and Bauwens Development has realized the plan across five construction phases. The inaugural phase delivered approximately 350 units across four blocks: staggered cube-form buildings framed by four- to five-storey wings, with flowing courtyards serving as both access and community gathering spaces. Across construction parcels 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8, pbp Architekten shaped this opening phase with over 190 units, implementing the master plan's signature design code of "hard shell, white core." Exterior facades showcase clinker brick, while courtyard-facing elevations feature light plaster with carefully considered color accents. The freestanding parking structure—also designed by the Hamburg office—houses 670 spaces beneath two retail frontages. Its dual expression is deliberate: a brick base grounds the structure, while an expanded metal lattice upper facade provides both acoustic shielding and ventilation.

www.pbp.hamburg

Photography:

Daniel Sumesgutner
www.sumesgutner.de

Die Wohnkompanie NRW/krischerfotografie
www.krischerfotografie.de

(Featured in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|23)