ULMER HÖH

ULMER HÖH
Düsseldorf-Derendorf / North Rhine-Westphalia
ProjectNew building with 170 dwelling units and an underground car park
ClientINTERBODEN Innovative Lebenswelten GmbH & Co. KG / HTP HAMBURG TEAM Gesellschaft für Projektentwicklung mbH
SizeApprox. 26,700 m² GFA in total
Time Frame2019
ServicesDesign (invited, cooperative pitch) on the basis of an urban master plan
StatusDesign
VisualisationTomi Maslovarić
The defining element is the differentiated, space-forming façade. Besides the architectural impact, it creates an unparalleled level of living comfort with its diverse private outdoor spaces.
The outdoor areas structured by bay windows and offsets wrap around the building like undulating bands and lend small-scale vitality to the large-scale form.
The inner courtyard offers sheltered outdoor areas for the ground-floor flats and also ample open space for all the residents. Except for the south wing, all parts of the complex are accessed from the public realm.

How does one live in the heart of the city and still enjoy a view of private, sheltered green spaces? The answer: a differentiated, space-forming façade. On the site where Düsseldorf’s state correctional facility stood from 1893 to 2012, roughly 5 hectares of land are envisaged to become a new urban quarter with a blend of residential and commercial use. The competition entry submitted by Michels Architekturbüro for the third of four building plots envisions a consolidated residential complex as a block featuring surrounding outdoor spaces that swathe the building on every floor.

Articulated by bay windows, the exterior façade captures and forms space as a valuable extension of the living space: with a depth of up to 2.5 metres, this offers attractive outdoor spaces for a variety of uses, as well as sufficient space for individual greenery. The sculptural design of the façade not only gives a lively appearance to the exterior but also provides an interesting interweaving of indoor and outdoor space. An added benefit is the high degree of privacy vis-à-vis the surroundings, despite the generous glazing of all the flats.

Balconies, loggias and windows down to the floor bring lots of light and air into the living areas despite the building’s great depth.
A well thought-through layout affords a wide variety of living conditions and, despite the efficient uniformity in the basic structure, the chance to create individual combinations of dwelling units.
The dwelling spaces are arranged around an internal sanitary core. This makes efficient use of the building depth and also facilitates the optimal provision of daylight.
Privacy for the residents of the ground floor flats is ensured by creating a raised ground floor in combination with a green area or garden in front.