Just a short distance from Bottrop's Town Hall, Less Plus Architektur designed and completed a residential building housing four apartments and an office unit. The interconnected ground floor and basement serve as the creative home of architects Philipp Valente, Nils Martens, and their team. The spaces embody the architects' design philosophy—one that marries the raw industrial aesthetics of the Ruhr region with Japanese influences. "Following Japanese philosophy, a dark interior creates room for shadow," explains Philipp Valente.

The façade's translucent elements deserve special attention for their masterful play with light. A filter brick wall paired with expanded metal planting creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, lending the architecture a distinctive visual presence. This design choice integrates seamlessly with the surroundings while establishing a connection to nature. Equally important to the architects was creating interiors that reflect their team's collaborative ethos—defined by horizontal hierarchies. On the ground floor, linear arrangements of key elements provide spatial direction, while deliberately placed organic plants and rocks create subtle visual breaks. A sliding rail curtain system offers flexibility, allowing spaces to open up or divide as work demands. Acoustic ceiling panels and weighted soundproof curtains ensure optimal acoustics. Minimalist restraint defines every detail: all furniture is custom-designed in partnership with the carpentry workshop—tables topped with natural wood veneer, cabinetry that conceals the television at a standing desk, kitchen storage where nearly everything disappears from view. Raw steel punctuates throughout, visible in the staircase, expanded metal fall protection, and shelf construction. Strategic lighting highlights key areas and architectural moments while maintaining a serene atmosphere. Illuminated shadow gaps in the bathrooms and thin light strips along the stairs exemplify this approach. So did challenges arise? "Absolutely," Nils Martens notes. "The site sits in a pressurized water zone, requiring substantial investment and effort to waterproof the basement as a sealed vessel." The property opens to visitors on Architecture Day, June 30th.

www.lessplus.de

Photography Credits:

Jan Schölzel
www.janschoelzel.de

(From CUBE Ruhrgebiet 02|24)