For decades, an urban void sat between Mülheim's multicultural residential neighborhoods and its commercial zones on the Rhine's right bank. In 2015, following close collaboration with the City of Cologne, a competitive design process for Schanzenstraße selected RKW Architektur + and FSWLA Landschaftsarchitektur as winners. The I/D Cologne masterplan brings approximately 160,000 m² of office space to the Schanzenviertel district. Art-Invest Real Estate and Osmab Holding's inaugural phase bridges this gap with two flagship structures: the Haus am Platz and the Patio-Haus—the latter purpose-built for a forward-thinking coworking enterprise.

Directly across from the heritage-protected Felten & Guilleaume wire factory, I/D Cologne's first two buildings anchor a new public plaza. Surrounded by industrial landmarks—Carlswerk, E-Werk, and Palladium—the neighborhood's storied past inspired a timeless architectural language. Both structures share a unified urban block form with consistent floor heights, yet each maintains its distinct identity. The clinker brick façades create visual harmony while their contrasting rhythms—horizontal divisions on one, vertical on the other—set them apart. The northern building commands attention through expressive projections and textured brick articulation, while its southern counterpart speaks in refined, understated elegance. "Clinker wasn't merely a nod to our surroundings," notes Christian Hein, project lead at RKW Architektur+. "We sought to communicate enduring quality and durability through meticulous detailing and coherent design." The interiors echo this industrial aesthetic: exposed raw concrete, visible systems, galvanized steel, and end-grain parquet define both interiors. The building's wire-font signage—a subtle homage to the historic wire mills nearby—ensures this industrial heritage flows seamlessly into the future. Both buildings have earned LEED Gold certification for their sustainable design and operations.

www.rkw.plus

Photography Credits:

Ralph Richter

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|22)