hehnpohl architektur expresses traditional language of historic münster

hehnpohl architektur’s residential ‘haus am buddenturm’ is nestled among the heritage fabric buildings of münster, germany’s historic city center. working within the parameters of the city’s building code, the design team generates a volume which is physically expressive of the three designated plot lines of the street. two boundaries border the east and west street facing while the third demarcates the perimeter of the building on the lot. while the facade is sculpted with linear setbacks designated by the city, the building’s profile and brick materiality express the traditional language of its historic neighbors. these context-driven design strategies reveal an urban scale whose typology is collectively rooted in the center of münster.

all images courtesy of hehnpohl architektur

münster-based practice hehnpohl architektur integrates both an historic expression together with a sense of contemporary minimalism. in each case the team shows a clear emphasis on raw materiality and attention to clean details and geometries at both the building scale and at the material scale. the street-facing façade is divided into three imbricated sections. while the ground floor level is partially finished in reflective copper, the two level above each feature a deep recess with corner glazing. these recesses open the interior toward a view of the medieval buddenturm, an ancient fortification tower which overlooks the historic city.

the staggered nature of the façade is further expressed inside the building. in the stairwell, the exterior walls gradually fan outward to capture the natural light which floods the interior through glazing along the eaves and roof. the interior is organized across four levels. the ground floor hosts the entrance, a multi-functional area, an interior courtyard, and garage. the living and dining areas, kitchen, and a roof terrace with views of the observanten church follow on the first floor. bedrooms and studies along with bathrooms are situated on the upper floors. a tactile dichotomy is generated with the material implementation on the exterior and interior. while the facade offers the raw texture of hand-molded bricks fired in a ring kiln — a link to the historic surroundings — the interior is softened by porous, untreated concrete and floorboards laid on sleepers lending clean edge conditions.