The centre of Dreieich has been revitalized with a dynamic new neighbourhood featuring five townhouses, carefully planned to blend commerce with residential living. Along the main street, ground-floor retail, dining, and service spaces reinforce the area's existing character while building on its success—from the organic market to the nearby pharmacy. Above all, 50 carefully designed apartments—many accessible and energy-efficient—strengthen the community and quality of life in Dreieich's vibrant core.

Five distinctive townhouses form the framework of this urban composition. Their forms radiate outward from the neighbourhood's centre, with narrow façades facing the property lines—a strategy that maximizes air flow and natural light. The buildings themselves are crisp and geometric: south and west elevations feature expansive glazing to capture sunlight, while other facades employ textured plaster. Stacked balconies and loggias with integrated sun screens layer the southern and western faces, creating visual depth and dimensional interest across the façades.

Two buildings meet the main street at right angles, forming a gateway to Dreieich's town centre. Between them sits an inviting neighbourhood plaza—a public gathering space that extends the street's vitality while guiding visitors through to the rear retail areas and residential entrances. Responding to the City of Dreieich's vision for a more human-scaled streetfront, these corner buildings step back at their upper levels. The ground and first two storeys maintain the required three-storey street presence, while additional floors gracefully recede to provide more living space. The remaining three structures rise five storeys without setbacks, yet their positioning carefully preserves light and views for surrounding properties.

The retail spaces speak the same architectural language as the neighbourhood itself—contemporary and inviting. Expansive glazed facades facing both the plaza and car park create transparency and visual openness, establishing a landmark presence that draws the eye and invites discovery.

www.rathke-architekten.de
www.schoofs-immobilien.de

Photography Credits:

Thomas Ott
www.o2t.de
Michael Häfner
www.michael-haefner.com
David Vasicek

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 01|23)