Stefan Forster and his team completed a 16-home residential quarter in Düsseldorf’s Gerresheim district for the long-established WOGEDO cooperative. The project emerged from an intensive workshop process that actively involved both cooperative members and local residents.
The new development replaces the existing buildings along Hagener Straße, which could no longer be renovated. Three new structures on both sides of the street create passageways that connect the neighborhood with its surroundings: to the north, they lead to the adjacent forest; to the south, they open onto communal courtyard spaces. An additional building on the corner of Lüdenscheider Straße completes the ensemble and marks the entrance to the neighborhood. The urban design follows the principle of rhythm and structure, ensuring that the buildings are perceived as a cohesive unit. Five-story front buildings accentuate the neighborhood’s entrances on the west and east sides. Sculpturally articulated street façades – with recessed entrances, projecting bay windows, and varied eaves heights – create a dynamic frontage in high-quality, warm-toned clinker brick.
The project includes 187 rental apartments designed for flexibility, accommodating various household sizes. Ground-floor units feature private gardens, while upper-floor apartments have balconies, loggias, or roof terraces with views of the surrounding greenery. A daycare center and shared amenities – such as a communal washhouse and a teahouse – complement the residential offering, fostering social interaction.
Apartment sizes range from 37 to 112 square meters, with two- to five-room layouts catering to a diverse group of residents. Sustainability was a key consideration: twelve percent of the units operate entirely CO2 emission-free. Additionally, a voluntary commitment ensures that 36 percent of the apartments are publicly subsidized, while 52 percent are offered at reduced rents – sending a strong signal in support of affordable housing.
The Hagener Straße quarter follows two strategies for sustainable construction. Firstly, our aim was to achieve a high standard of thermal insulation and energy efficiency in combination with durable, high-quality materials. The construction of double-leaf masonry with timber beam ceilings and rafter roofs ensures maximum longevity and is fundamentally circular. High-quality clinker bricks make the buildings long-lasting – their solid brick façades remain maintenance-free for around 100 years. Green roofs with rainwater management facilitate controlled infiltration via soakaways, in line with the sponge city concept.
As the second pillar of our energy and sustainability strategy, three of the 16 buildings were designed as energy self-sufficient houses. Large-scale photovoltaic systems installed on the roofs generate more than 50 per cent of the energy required for electricity, hot water, and technical systems. The ventilation system with heat recovery eliminates the need for a water-based heating system. The energy self-sufficient houses allow for a long-term evaluation of different operational concepts in direct comparison with the 13 additional KfW 55 efficiency houses.
A key element of the concept is the communal use of open spaces: unenclosed green areas encourage neighbourly interaction, while a publicly accessible tea house serves as a social meeting point for communal activities.
