Living at Gelber Block
Extension and refurbishment of a cooperative block of flats in Munich's Westend district
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City Munich
Builder-Owner Wohnungsgenossenschaft München-West eG
Status Start of construction 2023, completion 2025
Data Floor space 15,900 sq.m. (incl. 4,800 sq.m. densification), 215 residential units, retail, underground garage
Commission HOAI phases LP 1-5, partly 6-8
Task A cooperative would like to build high-quality urban living for its members in the Westend
Challenge Renovation and retrospective consolidation
Solution Addition of further storeys to late 19th-century block structures, revaluation of the green areas and the access to the existing buildings
Projektteam
Frank Feuchtenbeiner, Sebastian Klich, Maria Kremsreiter, Mateja Mele, Carlos Moya, Florian Rothermel, Susanne Seufert (Projektleitung LPH 5-8), Robert-Christopher Tubbenthal (Projektleitung LPH 1-4)
Preserving and supplementing in a building cooperative
Wohnungsgenossenschaft München West is deeply rooted in Munich's Westend and characterises this district with its buildings and small-scale shops and restaurants. To create urban living space, the ‘Yellow Block’ in the centre of Westend is to be redensified. The building, which is not as tall asthe surrounding buildings, was designed in the ‘New Objectivity’ style (built in 1927, architects Eugen Dreisch, Emil Freymuth, Herbert Landauer) and in its current form houses 169 residential units, most of which are two-room flats. There is therefore a need for larger, family-friendly residential units with a flexible room structureto ensure a good mix.
Existing buildings
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Existing buildings
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“New Objectivity” taken to the next level
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New lift shafts on the courtyard-side stairwells enable barrier-free access in the extension, as well as access to the intermediate landings of the existing stairwell. The façade, open spaces and access to the existing building will be upgraded and balconies added.
In order to achieve a continuous eaves height all around the block, there are two residential storeys along each of the three blocks and an additional storey along the head building as part of the extension. A clear separation is created between the existing building and the extension by means of a space-creating cornice - a gesture that often appears in the Westend.
The refurbishment of the existing building picks up onthe theme of ‘New Objectivity’, while the extension forms a material counterpoint without abandoning the theme of the original period.
The original shop unit on the ground floor facing Georg-Freundorfer-Platz has been reopened.
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Status quo
The prefabricated elements in timber construction allow the two additional storeys with 48 flats to be built quickly in Munich's Westend district. The first new flats are due to be occupied at the end of 2024.
