Munich

New residential development with a children's center, underground parking garage, and outdoor facilities

2024

GWG Städtische Wohnungsgesellschaft München mbH

The prominent location in Neufreimann and the square layout of the site form the starting point for the design. The design thrives on the tension between the geometric rigour of the square block on the one hand, and the disruption of this geometry on the other, achieved through variations in height, the individual relationships of the four building sides to the surrounding urban space, and vertical joints. The joints physically detach the four building corners from the block’s square, freeing them from the abstract overall form and thus reflecting their prominent position within the urban fabric, sometimes as a high-rise, sometimes as a high point. Variations and morphological changes in the façade appearance of the four building sides—whether facing the park, the green boulevard or the Ringstraße—reflect their respective orientation and position within the urban space.

The motif of a shell enclosing the four building corners, as a variation on the square, serves as an organising element for the layout of the floor plan and the façades. The shell expresses the ambivalence between interior and exterior, between space and form, between enclosure and openness. Thus, the building ring of the block is divided into four independently accessed quadrants, each of which wraps around the inner courtyard with one building corner. The floor plans of each quadrant are similar in layout, whilst the configurations vary according to compass direction and building height.

We view Neufreimann as an urban space of classical order, drawing on the tradition of Munich’s Wilhelminian-era residential districts. Inspired by examples of Milan’s Novecento style, great importance is attached to the colour scheme of the façades and the careful design of the building entrances. The entrances are arranged in pairs in the passageways leading to the courtyard from the Ringstraße and the Grünboulevard. From there, access is also provided to storage rooms for pushchairs and, to the south, the communal room. A further central passageway from the west aids ventilation. Bicycle storage rooms are located on both sides of this passageway. In the neighbouring mobility centre, cargo bikes can be hired and repairs carried out. At the four prominent corners of the building, the entrances to commercial premises are located to the west, a restaurant to the south-west and shops to the north-west. At the eastern corners of the building are the entrances to the children’s centre.

The main entrance is on Grünboulevard, whilst the delivery area and kitchen are accessed from the north via the Ringstraße.

The varied design of the façade is achieved through variations on a single window type. Sometimes a three-part window, sometimes a loggia; in the stone-clad plinth, they are grouped over two storeys or feature arched tops. The upper storeys are rendered in light earth tones, with window surrounds framing the windows or linking them in pairs. The high-rise is clad in stone at the base and finished with red brick above.

The design concept focuses on a building structure that is as cost-effective and sustainable as possible. The structural grid system is based on a module measuring 3.90 x 3.90 metres. The Cartesian rigour of the geometry allows for maximum standardisation and reduction of building elements, and is well-suited to the short spans typical of serial timber construction. The consistent structural grid enables high-quality room units with a high degree of modularity and repetition for the flat layouts. Vertical loads can be efficiently transferred down to the basement without any offsets. The basement is compact; in the centre, an unsupported area of 7.80 x 7.80 metres remains free for the planting of three large trees.

The entire complex does not require the fire brigade to use ladders in the event of a fire. The structural escape routes are provided for each quadrant via an external safety stairwell. One stairwell serves seven flats per floor. All flats have balconies or loggias and face south, east or west. Larger flats are dual-aspect or open-plan. The living and sleeping areas are generously lit by wide, three-part windows. Bathrooms are grouped into clusters.