Blocknumber
District
47
I
W.F.C.J.Habets
Figure 1 Block 47 seen from the North-East
1. Krefelder Straße 2. Wevelinghover Straße 3. Wickrather Straße 4. Innere Kanalstraße 5. Park
Situation The building block, situated at Krefelder Straße, Wevelinghover Straße, Wickrather Straße and Innere Kanalstraße is located
2
3
in Köln-Neustadt-Nord. Above the Innere Kanalstraße is a park functioning as a border between the Neustadt-Nord and city district Nippes. The location of the buildingblock was part of the “Neue Festungswerke” of Joseph Stübben, 1891. So the street patterns and therefore the form of this building block was never designed by Stübben.
Figure 2 Block 47 seen from North-East within group I Figure 3 Situation block 47 with street names
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4 1
Streets | Innere Kanalstraße 1
The building block is surrounded by four different kind of streets.
offset of the building line. The distance to the public street is larger and
These streets have their own characteristics and relations to the
therefore the gallery will be experienced more public.
building block. In the following part these streets, in relation to building block 47, are investigated with the surrounding building
Block and style
blocks.
Beside the offset in the building line of blocks 47 and 48 they are created as “one” composition of a style (colours, rhythmic of windows, roof forms,
Building line
etc.). Building block 32 doesn’t exist out of one style, but has rhythmic
The Innere Kanalstraße and the park are functioning as a border between
interruptions by the use of different colours on the building block. Also
Neustadt-Nord, location of building block, and city district Nippes. This
the roof form, balconies and cantilevers of this block differences in the
street is functioning as façade of the city Cologne (perspective 1),
different livings. Building block 47 exists out of two vertical objects with
because these blocks are at the edge of the city. The building blocks
saddle roofs and in between a flat roof slab. By the use of one style the
47 and 48 have an spatial aspect in common, an offset in the building
different livings are not visible from the outside like building block 32.
line. This creates an interesting scenario in the quality of spaces in the
Building block 47 is more an ensemble created by one architect then
front of the buildings and the street. In the front of block 47 it creates an
building block 32.
green area with trees and the gallery is placed more in the back by the
Figure 4 Innere Kanalstraße consists a dynamic building line Figure 5 Perspective 1 Figure 6 Facades Innere Kanalstraße, block 32 changing in style Figure 7 Facades Innere Kanalstraße
Block 32
Block 48
Block 47
Streets | Krefelder Straße Block and style
Opening
Building blocks 45 and 47 are created as “one” composition of a style
The building block 47 is parallel to the Krefelder Straße, but at the
(colours, rhythmic of windows, roof forms, etc.). This principle also
crossing of the Innere Kanalstraße it changes direction. At the direction
been used at the Innere Kanalstraße. Building block 44 is different
change there is an opening created into the building block. This creates
from the rest of the blocks, because this building block was planned by
a new front façade, seen from North to South (figure 9). Seen from the
Joseph Stübben, 1891. Left from the Krefelder Wall, location of building
perspective of figure 9, there could be a thought that this building is
blocks 45 – 47, was at the time of Stübben a Fort IX and part of the
not part of a closed building block. But rather is a part of a building like
“Neue Festungswerke” (see also chapter about the history). So this
Ernst May building blocks. This direction change has a lot to do with
part was never designed by the rules of Stübben. These blocks have
the temptation of the picturesque.
more similarities with the high-rise blocks at the Siedlung Römerstadt of Ernst May. Also the spaces behind the front façade have similarity with the blocks of Ernst May (see chapter matrix). Next to the differences of these blocks, there is one aspect that’s the same, the height of the buildings. Building block 47 consists 5 levels and the first floor is lifted for 1 meter by the use of a plinth.
Block 45
Krefelder Wall
Opening
Block 47
Block 44
Figure 8 Krefelder straße Figure 9 Opening in building block 47 Figure 10 Facades Krefelder Straße, block 44 changing in style Figure 11 Facades Krefelder Straße
Streets | Wevelinghover Straße Sequence of spaces The sequence of this street can be characterized as narrow – square – narrow. At one side, building block 45, there is one long façade without difference in building line. This façade doesn’t respond on the square Figure 12 Perspective 2
by creating a different façade inside the long repetition. This street
Figure 13 Wevelinghover Straße
aspect of the temptation of the picturesque, seen before at the opening
Figure 14 Facades Wevelinghover Straße
ensures that streets won’t be endless and boring. The narrow beginning
Figure 15 Facades Wevelinghover Straße
ends by an offset of building block 46 (perspective 2). This is typical an of building block 47 (Krefelder Straße). The use of this picturesque is a result of the high-rise buildings at both sides of building block 45 and 47.
Block 47 Square Block 45
2
Block 46
Streets | Wickrather Straße The entrances of the livings of building block 47 are visible by the use
the façade of the Krefelder Straße. Only difference is the front yard at
of a setback in the façade and the openings in the hedges in front of the
the entrances on the Wickrather Straße. This is an important fact that
building. The left corner of the building block differs from the repetition
both facades are the same but the streets have a different character.
of the entrances and is recognizable with the balconies. These inside
The Wickrather Straße is a dead ending street with less traffic, but the
balconies are also applied at building block 46. The façade of block
Krefelder Straße is an important connection street to the city district
47 doesn’t respond to the square, same as building block 45 in the
Nippes. So the building block is created as one façade along different
Wevelinghover Straße. The right part of building block 47 is similar to
type of streets.
Figure 16 Wickrather Straße Figure 17 Facades Wickrather Straße Figure 18 Facades Wickrather Straße
2 3
Block 47
1 4
Square Block 48
Block 46
Streets | Summary
Access interior block Car acces interior block Levels in building block Front yards Long / Short side of block
Innere Kanalstraße Yes No 5-4-5 No Short
Krefelder Straße Yes Yes 5 No Long
Wevelinghover Straße Yes No 5 Yes Short
Wickrather Straße No No 5 Yes Long
1. Innere Kanalstraße 2. Krefelder Straße 3. Wevelinghover Straße 4. Wickrather Straße
Corners | Krefelder - Wevelinghover Straße The building block has four different kind of corners with their
and is recognizable at the corner of building block 47. This follows
own kind of characteristics. Some corners are part of a square,
the direction of the Krefelder Straße and could visibly be extended
where another corner is part of the entrance city façade. In the
(figure 20-21). Also the offset in the corner creates the feeling that the
following part each corner of building block 47 is investigated
Krefelder Straße is more important than the Wevelinghover Straße. By
with the surrounding building blocks.
the pull back of the façade, placed out of side, there is an entrance to the interior of the building block (marked with red, figure 22). Also the
Primary façade
hedges in front of the façade ensures a more private area and provide
The corner at Krefelder – Wevelinghover Straße is part of a sequence
a less inviting feeling.
of street façades of the Krefelder Straße. This is the primary façade
Figure 19 Location of corner
Kre
feld
er
Str
aße
Figure 20 Primary facade in front of secundairy facade of the Wevelinghover Straße Figure 21 Facade on corner could be extruded Figure 22 Corner Krefelder - Wevelinghover Straße
We
v
n eli
gh
ov
St er
raß
e
Corners | Wevelinghover - Wickrather Straße Square This corner at Wevelinghover – Wickrather Straße is part of a square.
Wevelinghover Straße. By the narrowing of the street after the square
This square is defined by the façades of building block 45, 46 and 47.
the corner is an important focus point and is inspired by the picturesque
Each block responds different on the square or even doesn’t respond
of Camillo Sitte. Next to the jumping façade the roof form is different
on it. The corner of building block 47 is an exception by jumping out
from the rest of the building block.
3 4
on the rhythmic flat façade (figure 24-27). The perspective from the Wickrather Straße showing the balconies of the block directed to the square. Another aspect of the corner is the perspective from the
Figure 23 Location of corner
Figure 24 Corner Wevelinghover - Wickrather Straße We
vel
ing
hov
er
Str
aße
Wi
c
t rS e h t kra
raß
e
Figure 25 Perspective 3 Figure 26 Perspective 4 Figure 27 Building line on corner changes
Corners | Wickrather - Innere Kanalstraße Fluctuating building line The corner at Wickrather – Innere Kanalstraße is part of a sequence of street façades of the Innere Kanalstraße. The corner façade (red) is the same way directed as its neighbour block. As said in the street analysis of the Innere Kanalstrasse there is a lot of fluctuating building lines. The corner is in front of the gallery (light red) and therefore more important in hierarchy of the building block. The corner is also marked by balconies at the Wickrather and the Innere Kanalstraße. This is a subtle deviation from the rhythmic façade of the Wickratherstraße.
Wi
ck
rat
he
rS tra ße
Inn
Figure 28 Location of corner Figure 29 Difference in building line Figure 30 Innere Kanalstraße 1963 Figure 31 Corner Wickrather - Innere Kanalstraße
ere
K
lst ana
raß
e
Corners | Innere Kanal - Krefelder Straße Exceptional form
Balconies
The corner at Innere Kanalstraße – Krefelder Straße is an important
Just like the balconies at the corner of the Innere Kanalstraße –
corner for entering the city centre of Cologne. Therefore the use of
Wickrather straße is this principle applied at this corner. These
an exceptional performance of a gallery in the shape of a circle. This
balconies are an interruption of the rhythmic windows on the facades
unusual shape is made of concrete which is in contrast with the other
(figure 33). It is the rule of the building block to end the corner by the
material in the building block, plasterwork. The circular shape provides
use of an exception on the rhythmic grid. These exceptions can be
a direction towards the opening to the interior of the building block. At
applied like balconies, a circular shape, inside balconies or by an offset
the other side of this gallery is a circular shaped hedge with the same
in the façade.
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function (arrow in figure).
Inn
ere
Ka
na
lst
raß
e
Krefe
traß lder S
e
Figure 32 Location of corner Figure 33 Corner Innere Kanal - Krefelder Straße Figure 34 Differences in building styles
Sections | Wevelinghover - Innere KanalStraße The building block is part of the urban tissue and has differences
of Joseph Stübben. A result of this opening of the building block changes
in the use of spaces. These differences of spaces, inside and
the use of spaces inside the building block. In the closed building blocks
outside the building block, are investigated with sections through
is a private atmosphere and differs in relation to an open building block.
the block.
At the west side of the building block are two openings for pedestrian to enter the inside (figure 37). The inside of the block consist a “collective
Figure 36 Location of sections
Opening
garden” which is open for the public, because everybody can access
The building block has a rectangular form, 70m by 170m, with one
the interior of the building block. This principle of an building block with
opening for car access into the block. This is an important aspect of the
a collective garden is also applied at the neighbours, building block 45.
building block, because this opening destroys the closed building block
Figure 37 Section 1 Figure 38 Section 2
Innere Kanalstraße
Wevelinghover Straße
Building block 45
Street
Green area
Street
Sidewalk
Front Yard
Building
Collective garden
Opening
Collective garden
Building
Front yard
Sidewalk
Street
Sidewalk
Building
Collective garden
Sections | Krefelder - Wickrather Straße The inside of the building block has a calmer character than the tight street façade. This is because of the balconies applied on both sides of the inner façade of the building block. These balconies imply the lively of the different households. The ground floor dwellings have no direct access to the collective garden because the building block is lifted for 1m (figure 40). Therefore the use of the collective garden won’t be very attractive and only used for a good view.
Figure 38 Location of section Figure 39 Inside the buildingblock is a part for car parking Figure 40 Interior facade with balconies
Collective garden
Building
Sidewalk
Street
Square
Street
Sidewalk
Front Yard
Building
Balconies
Collective garden
Car parking
Balconies
Building
Sidewalk
Car parking
Street
Sidewalk
Figure 41 Section 3
Matrix | Ernst May The matrixes showing the relations between the external and internal
differences between the facades. The street façade and the internal
of this building block. As said before the location of this building block
façade of building block 47 doesn’t really differ much, only balconies
was part of the “Neue Festungswerke” of Joseph Stübben, 1891. This
are added. People still experiences differences because of the quality
building block is more comparable with the high rise of the Siedlung
of space. Therefore the garden is explained as collective area, while it
Römerstadt of Ernst May. In the sections is visible that the entrances
should be a public area because of the opening in the block.
are at the street façade and the height of the blocks is almost the same. The fascination of tall buildings during the 30’s led to the abolishing of
External facade on street straight, rhythmic accessible representation paved the architect’s input
street public
Figure 42 Building block 47 with surrounding Figure 43 Section block 47 Figure 44 Section Siedlung Römerstadt Figure 45 Inside facade of block 47 Figure 46 Inside facade of building block Römerstadt
Internal facade and collective garden straight, rhythmic and balconies nonaccessible private life vegetation the architect’s input
building private
garden “collective”
building private
street public
History | J. Stübben 1891 - 1957 The location of the building block was part of the “Neue Festungswerke” of Joseph Stübben planned around the extension of Cologne, 1891. In earlier designs of Stübben he also mentioned a fortress IX. Today the remaining of the fortresses are still visible in Cologne, fortress X. This is visible in the maps as a triangular form. Fortress IX is replaced during time by the building blocks 45 and 47. The only remaining of Stübbens plan is the Krefelder straße in the direction of Nippes. This street hasn’t changed much since the drawings of Stübben. During the Second World War Cologne was badly damaged. So by reconstructing the city they also made new building blocks, building block 47. 1891
1902
Figure 47 Krefelder Straße 1930
1911
1957
History | Building block 47
1953
1963
1983
The demolishing of a part of building block 46 during the
The façade of the Innere Kanalstraße hasn’t changed
The façade of the Innere Kanalstraße has still the same
Second World War shows the façade of building block 47.
much only an addition of trees.
characters since it has been build.
In the present situation the façade isn’t visible any more by the reconstruction of the building.
History | Joseph Stübben The building block is part of the Neustadt-Nord which was designed
rectangular form.”1 At three of the four facades this building block has
by Joseph Stübben in 1891. As said this section was part of the “Neue
front yards. Also the rows of trees indicate the influence of Stübben
Festungswerke”
during the time.
and therefore the block was never designed by
Stübben. But does it have the characters of a Stübben block? These characters of a building block has been published in 1890 and expanded
“Frequent change […] the kind of house-buildings (closed or open,
versions followed in 1907 and 1924, Handbuch des Städtebau.
high or low buildings).”2 This building block doesn’t confirm this rule of Stübben and hasn’t a differences of the different livings.
The building block is rectangular and does confirm a rule of Stübben. “They divide the improved districts into lots of trapezoidal or approximately
1 2
Stübben H-J., Practiacal and aesthetic principles for the laying out of cities. p. 2 Stübben H-J., Practiacal and aesthetic principles for the laying out of cities. p. 9
Figure 48 Building block 47 with surrounding Figure 49 Aeriel view of building block 47 Figure 50 Straight rhythmic facade
References |
Books Castex J., Depaule J.C., Panerai P. (1984). De rationele stad. Amsterdam: SUN Kier H. Die KĂślner Neustadt Karten StĂźbben H-J., Practiacal and aesthetic principles for the laying out of cities. Images Figure 1 - 8
Made by Wouter Habets
Figure 9
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 10 - 29
Made by Wouter Habets
Figure 30
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 31 - 32
Made by Wouter Habets
Figure 33
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 34 - 38
Made by Wouter Habets
Figure 39
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 40
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 41 - 43
Made by Wouter Habets
Figure 44
Castex J., Depaule J.C., Panerai P. (1984). De rationele stad. Amsterdam: SUN
Figure 45
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 46
Castex J., Depaule J.C., Panerai P. (1984). De rationele stad. Amsterdam: SUN
Figure 47
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 48
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 49
Bilderbuch-koeln.de
Figure 50
Bilderbuch-koeln.de