Christoph Küpper
Stadthäuser, Stadtkern Aachen. FH Aachen (Germany)
The City Centre of Aachen is characterized by narrow streets, small-sized plots and a small-scale composition typical of German Medieval cities. The job was to first analyze the spacial structures of the surroundings and then to design city houses by reinterpretating the existing structures both on the Car Park „Prinzenhof“ and at the Car Park „Jesuitenstrasse“, 100 m away from the Aachen Cathedral,.
The „Prinzenhof“ would function as a small new market place with a glass-covered shopping gallery to its side. A four-storied building complex helps cover up the unsightly rear side of the Kleinmarschierstrasse. Appropriate free space had to be given to the imposing façade of the St. Michaelis Church. A number of small narrow streets, pedestrian bridges and stairs offer higher density and spacial tension.
The typical medieval-like composition of small parts is reflected in the design of the floor plans. They are based on a grid of 7.24 m in width and 8.48 m in depth. The rather limited depth combined with a height of 3.00 m between the floor guarantees a better illumination of the rooms. Some of the multi-storied apartments even contain huge double-storied living-rooms. The spacious outdoor living area and the comfortable interior are designed for excellent living quality. A high degree of multifunctionality is achieved by repeating similar room dimensions. The combination of different appartment types in one building complex will result in a good social mixture. The flat roofs permit additional terraces, roof planting or optional solar power equipments.
Similar to the nearby shopping streets visitors and inhabitants can move unhindered in a car-free enviroment. The Prinzenhofstrasse therefore becomes the main access road for cars. Within the planning area the access is restricted to pedestrians, cyclists and supplier traffic whereas the cars are led to a big underground car park.
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