This new residential and commercial district in Karlsruhe, a project by GIEAG Immobilien AG, is the result of an architectural competition.

The site is surrounded by a diverse architectural landscape consisting of a new development area, the old town, and buildings from the 1970s and 1980s. The challenge was to find an architectural language that would do justice to both the surroundings and the project’s requirements. The mix of eras and materials was addressed, on the one hand, by incorporating the block-edge structure of the surroundings, thereby adapting to the large-scale proportions of Karlsruhe’s Südstadt district. On the other hand, the façade features horizontal and vertical modulation and was designed in a variety of colors. The result is a calm building form that asserts itself confidently within its surroundings. The projections and recesses create the impression of a row of individual housing units, counteracting the large scale of the apartment block and, in harmony with the surroundings, ensuring a cohesive overall appearance.

The exterior design helps to maintain the classic hierarchy between public, semi-public and private spaces. On the one hand, the surrounding green zone on the base of the building ensures the privacy of the apartments on the first floor. On the other hand, the inner courtyard provides a sheltered retreat with private and communal areas.