Preserving and supplementing in a building cooperative

The München West Housing Cooperative has deep roots in Munich’s Westend district and, with its buildings and small-scale shops and restaurants, plays a defining role in the character of this neighbourhood. To create new urban living space, the ‘Gelbe Block’ building, situated in the heart of the Westend, has been extended to include 45 newly built residential units.

The building, which is lower in height than the surrounding development, was designed in the ‘New Objectivity’ style (built in 1927 by architects Eugen Dreisch, Emil Freymuth and Herbert Landauer) and houses 169 existing residential units, mostly two-room flats. To ensure a good mix, there was therefore a need for larger, family-friendly flats with a flexible layout.

Taking 'New Objectivity' to the next level

The refurbishment of the existing building picks up on the theme of New Objectivity, while the extension forms a material counterpoint without abandoning the theme of the original construction period.

To achieve a continuous eaves height all around the block, two residential storeys extend along each of the three elongated buildings and an additional storey along the head building was added 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 often seen in the Westend.

The infill development of the apartment block creates much-needed affordable urban housing, improves the quality of life in the existing flats, and carries the tradition of cooperative living into the future.

New lifts in the stairwells facing the courtyard provide barrier-free access to the new storeys, as well as access to the landings of the existing stairwell. The façade has been upgraded to improve energy efficiency and fitted with new balconies. The outdoor areas and access to the existing building have also been enhanced.

On the ground floor at Georg-Freundorfer-Platz, the original plans from the 1920s had envisaged a retail unit, which was converted into flats over the years. To strengthen the community in the Yellow Block, this space is currently being renovated and converted into a new neighbourhood meeting place with two adjoining social services offices.

The prefabricated balconies with their striking curves are suspended from the cantilevered parapet, connected via tension rods and anchored to the façade at certain points using lugs. An elegant solution that eliminates the need for elevation in the courtyard.

Construction process

The extension was carried out whilst the building remained in use, allowing the existing tenants to remain in the cooperative. The prefabricated timber modules from the Allgäu region enabled the project to be completed in just eleven months.

The infill development has created 45 new inner-city cooperative flats, primarily for families. The two new storeys are clad in titanium zinc and complement the existing block of flats with their lightweight construction.