2512 Schuetze
The grain of the location is characterized by the heterogeneous urban development of recent decades. The property, flanked by three streets, is located at the intersection where scales, building forms, and various typologies meet. The themes of contrast and bilateralism, as well as the typological and material characteristics typical of the location, are taken up and serve as the basis for the urban and architectural concept.
A composition of two identical, four-story buildings is proposed, which are offset and rotated in relation to each other along the sloping terrain. The location on the property responds to the respective vis-à-vis situation of the neighboring buildings in terms of edge formation and spatial flow. The two buildings are embedded in a lush green, natural open space that supports the lively character of the settlement. A layer of greenery consisting of native shrubs and perennials surrounds the houses and creates privacy for the apartments on the ground floor. This is also where the private garden seating areas are located. At the upper corner of the street, there is a meadow-like area with fruit trees. This references the location and its tradition of using open spaces close to settlements as orchards. The central communal area is located between the two new buildings and is accessible both directly from the buildings and from the street.
The building concept is based on a repeating modular structural principle. The basis is a compact four-winged “windmill” building shape with a compact central staircase core. The protruding parts of the windmill wings on each side of the facade structure the facade, referencing the bay window shapes typical of the neighborhood and allowing each apartment unit to face three sides. The head areas of the “windmill wings” are characterized by generously sized four-season rooms and adjoining loggia areas. These represent a unique selling point in each residential unit, as they expand the living space and add flexible living areas that can be used as a winter garden, studio, living room, or dining area.
The design combines aesthetic and conceptual requirements with economic considerations. Based on the principle of “the right material in the right place,” a hybrid construction is being considered in terms of construction typology, with a predominant share of prefabricated timber construction. Based on these construction principles and the concentrated arrangement of the shafts, a clear separation of systems is possible. This allows maintenance to be carried out on a component-specific basis and in line with the life cycle. The efficient structures and the use of renewable, local, and recycled building materials also make it possible to construct buildings with minimal gray energy consumption that are durable, easy to clean, and optimized for operating costs.
The appearance is characterized by a high-quality wooden façade, which presents itself as a dark-glazed, homogeneously elegant building. The tectonic structure of the building is primarily determined by the demarcation of a low mineral concrete base area, which connects the building to the terrain and “grounds” the wooden structure above it. The upper, rear-ventilated wooden facades are clearly structured vertically on the outside by filigree posts. The closed facade areas, like the wooden structure, are designed with wooden and dark glazed infill panels. The strictly vertical shadow image is structured in height by the horizontal floor beams as a “marca piano.” The vertical posts taper downwards from floor to floor to create a delicate, light, and dynamic play of shadows on the facade.
