In recent years, new residential space has emerged around the landmark Schumannhaus in Bonn's Endenich district. Neunwerk Architekten from Bornheim designed and realized two distinctive structures on the site west of this historic building, creating predominantly affordable housing while meeting stringent heritage protection standards – complemented by exclusive apartments on the top floor.

The project at the corner of Endenicher Allee and Sebastianstraße prioritized maximizing compact, subsidized apartments. The ground floor integrates a day-care facility with support services and two residential groups for people with dementia—each accommodating 12 residents. The upper floor features three premium owner-occupied units with generous terraces and outdoor areas. A critical planning constraint was limited parking availability: since most surface spaces serve public use, the solution involved relocating parking underground. Two major obstacles demanded careful consideration—a World War II air-raid shelter beneath the site and the need to preserve existing trees—each influencing both structural design and operational efficiency. The access areas to the underground garage required minimization, leading to an innovative double-walled car lift system that maximizes space efficiency while providing optimal sound dampening for resident comfort.

The new building engages respectfully with the neighboring landmark Schumannhaus—its façade design and outdoor spaces developed in close partnership with heritage authorities. The scheme preserves essential connections to the Schumannhaus plaza and maintains historic pathways, including the cherished "Schumann-Spazierweg." Waste management operates discreetly through a below-grade system. The three-storey primary volume presents a refined white thermal composite façade, while its perpendicular four-storey wing features light beige clinker brick—a material language echoing the neighboring "Schumann Höhe" development. Externally, the building's mixed uses remain visually unified: floor-to-ceiling glazing, glass railings, and meticulously designed outdoor terraces create an elegantly coherent presence within this diverse urban context. A signature feature—a Mediterranean roof garden with an elevated pool reserved for condominium residents—anchors the scheme. Native plantings and strategic greening throughout the neighborhood enhance the urban microclimate while establishing a vibrant green sanctuary within the city.

www.neunwerk.de

Photography:
Axel Hartmann
www.ah-fotografie.de

(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|25)