From Industrial Site to Vibrant Neighborhood
A Model Housing Development in Feldkirchen
In summer 2023, the Munich-based architecture firm Felix + Jonas completed a residential complex of 79 apartments in Feldkirchen, a municipality of roughly 8,000 residents east of Munich. Built on the former grounds of a Raiffeisen warehouse, the project was selected through a municipal competition—a win that speaks to the firm's innovative approach to the site's transformation.
Several distinctive design moves secured the first-place award. Most striking is the unconventional arrangement of three volumes across the 6,000 m² site—seemingly free-form, yet precisely positioned. At their center lies a verdant plaza that serves as a focal point for residents, while projections and recesses in the largest structure create additional outdoor gathering spaces. Positioned along the northern edge, this main volume acts as a noise barrier against passing trains. The housing mix is equally thoughtful, spanning from one-bedroom units to generous five-bedroom apartments.
What truly sets this project apart is its commitment to progressive communal living. Twenty apartments are dedicated to seniors, while a cluster housing model—with shared amenities and private quarters for up to seven residents—echoes the ethos of student housing while meeting contemporary needs. Every unit is barrier-free, several are wheelchair-accessible, and all feature a balcony or terrace. Geothermal district heating powers the complex, while a community café and after-school care program for the adjacent elementary school anchor the social infrastructure. Transit access is equally seamless, with the S-Bahn station just minutes away on foot.
The complex was fully leased before residents could even move in—a testament to its appeal. The visual warmth comes from two-tone rendered facades: warm rust-red at ground level, white above. Matching rust-red window frames punctuate the elevation, while green roofs serve dual purposes as climate moderators and water retention systems. The two smaller volumes step down in height to respect the surrounding neighborhood's intimate scale, with each building's placement, proportion, and orientation carefully calibrated to echo the existing streetscape, building lines, and public spaces.
Photography:
Jonas Bloch
www.jonasbloch.de
(Featured in CUBE Munich 02|24)
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