Léon Wohlhage Wernik

Residential estate Funkkaserne North, Munich. The former signalmen’s barracks in northern Munich is being converted for residential use. One section of the development, with 420 apartments, mainly social rented housing and student apartments, as well as a day care centre, nursing apartments and a family centre, will be the first to be constructed. While the student apartments are focused on the eastern section, the rented housing is accommodated in four buildings, all situated along a slightly raised courtyard that opens out to the south. With their different numbers of floors and developed frontage buildings as a result of the courtyard openings, they mediate between the closed block structure and the point-house development south of the estate.

The design aims to enable peaceful living despite the noisy street – achieving that through its internal organisation instead of the originally required noise barriers as protection from the heavily frequented Frankfurter Ring. In this way, the buildings, which face the ring-road but are somewhat withdrawn from it, are accessed from a walkway along the exterior wall that acts as a noise barrier. Only auxiliary rooms are aligned towards the side streets, so that everywhere, the living areas are oriented towards the quiet, green courtyard. The apartments are designed to provide the comfort of a sheltered situation, for instance through their placement around a corner: comfortable living space at an affordable rent.

The relief façade with its projections, balconies and colourful distinctions creates diverse shadowy images. At the same time, the façade regains its character as a corporeal figure through the uniform material, a mineral plaster. The street-side design also does more than simply act as the building’s rear. Projections resembling oriels add space to the access provided behind them and give the street view an unmistakeable image, even at a glance while driving past. Beside the street, an evergreen canopy of pines provides cover for “urban” sports such as skating and basketball. The design enhances the Frankfurter Ring as an urban street with a strong character. The open spaces are planned by Atelier Loidl.