Clarenbachpatz—one of three award-winning projects by the wvm Group
In its rationale for the award, the jury particularly praised the courage to tackle the challenge of building over railroad tracks using an innovative technical solution, as well as the outstanding urban planning and architectural achievement:
“Especially in metropolitan areas, where space is scarce, there is a shortage of housing. To overcome this problem, extraordinary construction projects are sometimes needed, as Clarenbachplatz 1 in Cologne-Braunsfeld impressively demonstrates. The fact that a busy freight rail line was built over with apartments along a 160-meter stretch is as spectacular as it is bold, since not only did the problem of vibrations caused by freight trains have to be solved, but the safety of the residents also had to be ensured—a remarkable feat of engineering that was also exemplarily resolved from a formal and aesthetic perspective.”
The ICONIC Award is presented by the German Design Council. It is regarded as one of the most important centers of excellence for architecture and design. Its awards are independent seals of quality of international standing for contemporary developments and design achievements. The German Design Council was founded as a foundation in 1953 on the initiative of the German Bundestag and the Federation of German Industries.
The official award ceremony for the international architecture and design competition will take place on October 5, 2022, in Munich during the EXPO REAL real estate trade show. “We are delighted to receive this award and proud to have brought such an innovative project to life,” says Raphael Hüffelmann, project manager at the wvm Group. “The building embodies boldness, engineering excellence, and teamwork.” Anton Bausinger, managing partner of Friedrich Wassermann, who initiated and played a key role in driving the project forward, adds: “Perhaps our construction project can encourage other project developers and serve as an example of how to take innovative approaches to creating urgently needed housing in supposedly ‘unbuildable’ locations, such as above railroad tracks.”
The Clarenbachplatz1 project, which has now received an award, features 67 apartments and just under 550 m² of commercial space, spread across three buildings. Below ground, 94 underground parking spaces ensure a car-free neighborhood plaza above ground, which is used for the weekly market. The architectural design of the new buildings represents a scale-defining urban renewal on a previously unplanned and derelict site that had long been considered “unbuildable.” Architect Matthias Dittmann describes his project concept as follows: “From the very beginning, the goal was to transform the site of the former freight yard into an urban space with a clear urban context and architectural references that give the place a distinct identity—and it’s a joy to see how residents, visitors, and neighbors happily use and bring to life this new space in the neighborhood day after day.”
Juliane Hein
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