Social Housing – Germany – 4th Place

Social Housing Competition in Germany – 4th Place.

The project makes a direct reference to the name of the neighborhood, functioning as its calling card. As iconographic components of the “garden city” typology, elements such as the arch and the use of color—strongly influenced by Bruno Taut’s color theory—were selected. The basic morphology of the neighborhood, a large block that defines the perimeter of the block, is confirmed as a suitable typology for a dense and inclusive housing form, and is further developed with significant improvements.

The implementation of the architectural elements “arch” and “color” credibly integrates the new buildings into the garden city tradition, creating immediately perceptible qualities and spaces of identity for the entire neighborhood. The privileged location of the site, at the transition to the natural landscape, allows for a fluid passage between the inner courtyard, with large trees designed in a park-like style, and the adjacent parks—the green corridor “flows” as public space through the large arches into the interior of the block. Additionally, two-story communal winter gardens connect the natural space to the building, making it accessible to residents even within their homes. Each building is assigned a winter garden, characterized by its individual color and position within the building’s volume. As a space for social interaction, these gardens strengthen the residents’ connection to the immediate neighborhood of “their” home.

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