residential building märzstraße

urban design concept
the residential building märzstraße 153–161 fills an existing urban gap along the northern edge of the missindorfstraße commercial courtyard. the longitudinal orientation of the site, running east–west along märzstraße, provides ideal conditions for housing:
to the south, a quiet green courtyard at the rear of the commercial park; to the north, the urban edge along märzstraße.
all apartments are oriented to the south, opening toward the green courtyard with large windows, private terraces, and balconies.
the building’s footprint and section respond carefully to the adjacent structures. the building depth of approximately 15 meters is reduced at both ends to about 12 meters to match the neighboring buildings. the same principle applies to the building height: the central section follows the maximum permissible height, while the side wings are lowered by half a story to align harmoniously with the surrounding rooflines.
since the courtyard level lies about half a story below the märzstraße, the lower ground-floor apartments open directly onto private garden terraces facing the courtyard. in contrast, the slightly elevated central zone forms a generous, open, and weather-protected entrance area at street level.
the southern façade recedes progressively with each story, creating a terraced structure that provides air, light, and outdoor space for the loggias and balconies.
on märzstraße, the exterior space widens at the center of the building into an open, semi-public forecourt beneath the overhanging volume. this covered outdoor area forms a subtle transitional zone between the street and the courtyard — a spatial sequence from public to semi-public to private — and ensures permeability between the two sides.

circulation concept
efficient access is provided by two staircases located at the longitudinal level shifts, allowing for generous open-access corridors (laubengänge) that are divided into two distinct zones, each fostering opportunities for neighborly interaction.
the path from the building entrance to each apartment door is conceived as one of the key communal spaces — a place where casual encounters, short conversations, and moments of social exchange can naturally occur.

housing structure
the differentiated volume — in both height and depth — generates apartments of varying sizes and spatial configurations. combined with the flexibility of the structural system, this allows for a rich variety of apartment layouts and a strong sense of individual identity for residents.
the proposed plans promote contemporary living concepts, avoiding strictly monofunctional rooms in favor of fluid transition spaces for living, dining, and cooking, as well as adaptable, connectable rooms.
across the entire façade width, each apartment is preceded by balconies and loggias of varying depth. in front of the bedrooms, narrow balcony zones extend into spacious loggias adjoining the living areas, offering wind- and weather-protected outdoor seating in the calm atmosphere of the green courtyard.