OFFENAUER

A context-driven residential building that introduces contemporary collective housing into a small-town environment through careful consideration of scale, orientation, and neighbourhood integration.

The OFFENAUER project was developed with a clear objective: to introduce a contemporary residential building into the existing urban fabric of Bad Friedrichshall, a town of approximately 18,800 inhabitants in the Baden-Württemberg region, in a manner that strengthens the neighbourhood rather than overwhelms it.

The rectangular 1,662.2 m² site, located near the Kocher River, is oriented east–west and accessed from Offenauer Straße on the western side, with a senior care facility bordering the site to the east. These conditions defined the key parameters of the design, shaping decisions related to orientation, access, scale, and integration with the surrounding context.

Early design studies focused on responsible land use and the development of a human-scaled collective housing model. The building was carefully positioned and formed as a compact volume comprising a basement, ground floor, and two full upper floors, allowing it to integrate naturally into the existing urban structure while maintaining clarity and spatial order.

The completed project accommodates 26 residential units, 36 garage parking spaces, and all required auxiliary functions within a total usable area of 3,304.4 m², including 1,977.5 m² of residential space. The east–west orientation ensures balanced daylight conditions, while the restrained massing and clear geometry support long-term comfort, energy efficiency, and liveability.

Be inspired.