Living between the river and the town centre
(North-Rhine Westphalia)
Photography: Robert Schmell, BBSR im BBR
In the mid-80s, the engineering company Chronos AG moved its production facilities from the town centre of Hennef (pop. 43.000) to the urban fringes. The 8 ha site fell into disuse. At the beginning of the 1990s, the area was subjected to a contaminated site clear-up and most the factory buildings were pulled down. The council had initially earmarked the area for a new shopping centre. But the project failed due to a low profit potential. The council hence finally decided to build a residential quarter composed of small-scale units on the site instead. The competition held in 1999 for this purpose was won by the architect Peter Böhm.
Source: Architekturbüro Böhm, Köln
The development of the Chronos site has resulted in the creation of an urban quarter linking the town centre with the landscape protection area “Siegauen”. At the edge of the protection area, a new esplanade above the Sieg river affords panoramic views across the river landscape. The densely developed quarter is structured by two court-type access routes which are bordered by 3-storey brick buildings. The main courtyard links the town with the river, whereas the second courtyard lies crossways. It has a more private character and offers a space for neighbourhood community activities. The edge of the quarter is marked by three listed buildings. A factory hall was converted into a restaurant-cum-event hall while shops and a cafe have moved into two villas at the entrance to the quarter.
Being placed in a curved arrangement, the new buildings can pick up on the old structures while simultaneously forming courtyards. The 46 residential units created in the new buildings offer a wide range of dwellings, from 1-bedroom apartments to large family apartments with garden. This great variety of apartments, which facilitates a mixed resident community, is integrated in a large building shape. It is this feature which lends the estate its unique character. The building entrances are located in the public courtyards, whereas private retreat spaces for the residents are provided on the balconies, roof gardens and in the gardens behind the buildings.
In the planning process, a particular emphasis was placed on environment-compatible construction methods. A cogeneration system provides the entire estate with heating and partly also with electricity. In addition, solar collectors have been installed on the roofs. The building materials used were predominantly natural, such as brick or timber.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Mid-1980s | Relocation of Chronos AG |
| May 1999 | Realization competition |
| Sept. 1999 | Construction start |
| Aug. 2001 | Completion |
Photography: Lukas Roth, Köln
Photography: Stefan Schilling, Köln
3rd prize in a competition held by the “Sternstadt-Forum” in 2003
Photography: Robert Schmell, BBSR im BBR
The special location of the site between the town and the river and the connection established between listed buildings via an unusual courtyard structure lend the Chronos quarter a unique character. The integration of a wide range of apartment types in a large urban design shape has created a district which affords its mixed resident community opportunities for private retreat as well as neighbourhood socializing in a densely structured environment.
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 53773 - town: Hennef - street: Willy-Brandt-Platz.
Record inserted on 01.08.2004 by Lehrstuhl für Planungstheorie und Stadtplanung, RWTH Aachen and updated by theFederal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR).
Last update: 13.02.2009
