Project description
The building on Binzmühlestrasse dating from 1908 needed to be fundamentally renovated. At the same time, the existing screed was expanded and merged with the underlying DG 1 to create a duplex apartment. The existing balconies on the courtyard side (OG 1 – OG 3) were demolished and replaced by a new, enlarged balcony tower. The existing room structure of the standard apartments was completely left, the rather smaller rooms were not changed in number and size. It result apartments with two to four bedrooms. In this way, the apartments retain a great adaptability to the use, i.e. also to potential users (e.g. shared apartments, families, couples with home office). Likewise, it was decided to design the apartments with only one wet room – without a bathtub but with a spacious shower due to the size proportions – and to arrange the kitchen furniture in such a way that only one riser zone is necessary. The first floor has a generous room height and a direct entrance from Binzmühlestrasse and can accordingly be used as a store, office or (residential) studio.
The construction and materialization of the new balcony tower is based on the principles of balcony constructions from the time of the building’s creation, the Wilhelminian period. The principle of mixed construction of solid concrete slabs and filigree steel structure is emphasized. The vertical and horizontal elements as well as the railing appear differentiated from each other.
In order to emphasize verticality and filigree, and to create a more spatially enclosed and thus more intimate feeling on the balcony itself, three supports were arranged regardless of the static necessity. To support this spatial perception, the two outer supports are additionally rotated inward by 45°. Looking from the kitchen, the balcony thus becomes legible not only as an additively created balcony, but as a spatial extension of the apartment.
The balcony base, which serves simultaneously as a foundation, a bench and a bumper guard against parked cars, reflects the building base and is made of cast-in-place concrete.
