The extraordinary "house within a house" principle brings new life
"The tank hall was top class." This is what architect René F. Krüger says about a reference project with an extraordinary history: A disused tank hall from the darkest period of German history. Vacant for 25 years. A ruinous state.
Old tank hall in Landau becomes an attractive home after renovation
The city of Landau in der Pfalz, the investor Bösherz Immobilien, and the Karlsruhe-based firm Krüger Architektur have proven that this can nevertheless be developed into an attractive home with high livability. Using the "house within a house" principle, they have converted the former tank hall in Landau, located on a former barracks site, into high-quality living space.
"House within a house" principle with modular boxes
Fifteen apartments are integrated into the 48 x 24 meter floor space and a floor height of nine meters. In the competition design, the architect developed a "house within a house" concept with inserted modular boxes.
The maisonette apartments, ranging in size from 78 to 126 square meters, stand out from the existing building thanks to a suspended larch wood façade designed as a floor-to-ceiling formwork.
The windows are also high-quality wood, with triple glazing meeting the KfW standard. The glass panes of the large hall windows were not reinstalled.
With their new single glazing made of laminated safety glass in the original steel frames, the foyer area comes closest to the original appearance. The steel gates along the long sides were welded in the open position and painted anthracite. Authentic, untreated materials also characterize the interiors. Exposed concrete elements of the existing building are complemented by screed floors and black steel staircases. In the bathrooms, large-format tiles, flush-mounted glass showers, and modern ceramic elements reflect the desire for high-quality furnishings.
The technical fit-out was designed with a clear separation of functions and flexibility in mind. TECEprofil walls with flushing technology and the corresponding washbasin modules were used for the bathrooms. The system, consisting of a supporting structure and matching sanitary modules, offers considerable design freedom, thus supporting the conceptual idea of the architectural design to work with flexible solutions.
Pipes can be concealed within the partition walls, and all the installation technology finds its place. Only the simple, elegant flush plates from the TECEnow series in glossy white remain visible, completing the clear design language of the building complex. The TECEnow impressed the client with its precise geometric design, which blends beautifully with the building's angular basic structure, and its high quality workmanship.
The large buttons are located in a wide rectangle; the entire element is only five millimeters thick and, with an additional frame, can be flush-mounted upon request. The toilet module and plates can be freely combined with one another in the TECE range and can be installed in just a few steps without the need for tools.