From Brewing to High-Quality Living
Abandoned military sites, abandoned industrial sites, disused railway tracks – in many cities, such places harbor tremendous potential for new beginnings and conversions. In Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg, it is the former site of the traditional Kronenbrauerei, which was open to new uses after its relocation.
The new Kronenquartier in Offenburg is being built on historic grounds
The investor, Wüstenrot Haus- und Städtebau GmbH (WHS), and the City of Offenburg launched an invited urban development competition for the redevelopment of the 9,160 square meter site.
Foto: Wüstenrot Haus- und Städtebau GmbH | Fotógrafo Markus Mahle
The focus was on residential development, with additional retail and "non-disruptive" commercial spaces planned. Another requirement was to preserve the existing trees and a restaurant with a beer garden. Wittfoht Architekten from Stuttgart won the competition in 2016; their first-place design serves as the basis for future developments.
The four-story buildings on Moltkestrasse in the eastern part of the neighborhood are mostly occupied; the ground floor houses retail. With their white plastered facades and clinker-clad bases in light gray tones, the buildings blend unobtrusively into the neighborhood. Deep loggias are visible on the street side, while large balconies and terraces on the ground floor face the courtyard. The apartments, mostly floor-to-ceiling windows, allow for plenty of light and, with their wooden floors and white-painted surfaces, create a friendly, neutral impression.
Pre-wall system enables great flexibility
The unobtrusive and highly practical design continues in the modern bathrooms. The TECEprofil drywall system, specially developed for pre-wall installation, was used in all 47 residential units. The system, consisting of a supporting structure and matching sanitary modules, offers considerable design freedom and allows planners to create individual room layouts. Pipes can be relocated within the pre-walls, and all the plumbing technology finds its place. All that remains visible are the simple, elegant white TECEnow flush plates, which complete the clear design language of the entire building complex. The large buttons are positioned in a wide rectangle; the entire element is only five millimeters thick and, with an additional frame, can be flush-mounted upon request. Toilet modules and plates can be freely combined in the TECE range and installed in just a few steps without the need for tools.
© Wüstenrot Haus- und Städtebau GmbH | Fotógrafo Markus Mahle
