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Revitalisation in the heart of Cologne's Porz district

Reduced and reinterpreted with clinker brick

The success story of the ‘Neue Mitte Porz’ began with the purchase of the vacant Hertie department store by the city of Cologne. The demolition of the department store ruins in 2018 enabled comprehensive urban regeneration and upgrading of the district. The result is an ensemble of three city blocks that break new ground in terms of space and design. JSWD Architekten assumed responsibility for the urban planning as well as the design and realisation of House 1. The facade surfaces of the residential and commercial building pay homage to the surrounding brickwork buildings.

Jürgen Steffens

Architect and Founder JSWD Architekten, on the development of the ‘Neue Mitte Porz’ project:

... from the status quo:
“It’s hard to imagine today what this place once looked like.”

... to the creation of a modern, lively urban district:
"The entire process here – the democratic decision-making, citizen participation, political engagement across the entire project from urban planning through architecture and landscaping represents, in my view, genuine sustainable urban development.”

VIDEO: Revitalising the heart of a district in Cologne with a residential and commercial building (08:02)
Collage of the iinsights about the revalisation

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19 valuable project [insights] pages about the revitalisation of Cologne Porz city centre. Find out everything – from design to construction, to comprehensive detailed solutions.

Successful urban regeneration

“In terms of residential property, this concept has been a complete success. You can see this in the full occupancy rate, something due to more than the prevailing housing shortage. It was possible to cater to families of different sizes. This in turn has laid the groundwork for a vibrant neighbourhood." Jürgen Steffens, JSWD Architects

The urban planning concept devised by the architectural firm JSWD proved convincing and has been a resounding success! See the whole story, from the development concept to the successful revitalisation of Porz town centre, here in our photo gallery.

  • New centre Porz project, close-up of building 1 with StoBrick brick slips on EWIS
    Homogeneous facade surface

    The exterior surface of the multi-layer facade structure is finished uniformly with iridescent grey clinker brick slips. Photo: © Daniel Poštrak, Cologne, DE

  • Residential and commercial building Neue Mitte Porz, close-up of facade with StoBrick brick slips on EWIS
    Grey iridescent clinker brick slips

    Building 1 is clad on all sides with clinker brick slips. Their iridescent grey colouring represents a modern interpretation of classic clinker brick. Two different colours were used for the joint mortar to create a stronger visual contrast between the protrusions and recesses in the facade.
    Photo: © Guido Erbring, Cologne, DE

  • Residential and commercial building New centre Porz – with EWIS brick facade from Sto
    Prime example of revitalisation

    House 1 offers 49 apartments and is the first of three buildings to be completed on the site. The materiality of the light-coloured brick slips on the facade is also reflected in the roof surface.
    Photo: © Guido Erbring, Cologne, DE

  • Model of the New Centre in Porz – an ensemble of three city blocks
    Urban regeneration in traditional block style

    A planning team comprising representatives from moderne stadt (urban development company and the architectural firm JSWD drew up feasibility studies and urban development guidelines for the site.The preferred solution was to demolish the ruins of the department store and to build three new city blocks.

  • PNew Centre Porz Project: Demolition of the Hertie department store, construction site
    Demolition

    Following demolition of the ruins of the department, and based upon JSWD drawings, the first construction work in the overall project involved the distribution structure for all underground car parks. This was followed by construction of the high-rise buildings, with three different firms responsible for their design and build. Photo: © Daniel Poštrak, Cologne, DE

  • New Centre Porz Project: Site plan

    Following demolition of the vacant Hertie department store in the centre of Porz, a district centre comprising three block buildings was created. These divide the public space into alleys and squares.

  • New centre of Porz: aerial photograph

    Aaerial photograph, © Bernhard Fischer Luftfotografie, Wickede, DE

  • Residential and commercial building Neue Mitte Porz – with EWIS brick facade from Sto

    The aim of revitalising the centre of this district was to get rid of the vacant properties that obstructed the meaningful use of urban space, to restructure pedestrian and line-of-sight reference points in the pedestrian zone and to create a lively, urban quarter.
    Photo: © Guido Erbring, Cologne, DE

  • Residential and commercial building New centre Porz, insulated brick facade by Sto
    Mix of residential, retail and dining

    The functional mix of retail, residential and community facilities is intended to create a lively, urban neighbourhood.
    Photo: © Guido Erbring, Cologne, DE

  • New Centre Porz project, construction, construction site image
    Construction

    Solid construction with insulated envelope
    The buildings in this new city block were constructed as solid steel-reinforced concrete structures. The concrete was poured on site. A robust, mineral-based external wall insulation system (StoTherm Mineral) with clinker brick slips forms the uniform outer skin of the buildings.
    Photo: © Dörthe Boxberg, Cologne, DE

  • Construction site photo: New centre Porz residential and commercial building, facade corner insulated with EWIS from Sto
    Reinforced concrete walls with EWIS

    An external wall insulation system from Sto with 20 cm of mineral wool insulation was chosen for thermal insulation of these buildings, featuring a 10 cm thickness in the recessed areas. Photo: © Daniel Poštrak, Cologne, DE

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  • Brick slips, reinterpreted

    Facade with depth effect

    The planning team wanted a homogeneous, calm surface with a soft texture. This was achieved with StoBrick, which has a certain unevenness.

    The light-coloured brick slips form a robust surface that also changes in colour and texture. The appearance of the partially three-dimensional surface changes depending on the viewing angle and time of day. The facade achieves a 3D impression of depth thanks to two different insulation thicknesses, which create different levels in the facade surface.

     

    Residential and commercial building Neue Mitte Porz, close-up of clinker brick facade by Sto
    Photo: © Guido Erbring, Köln, DE
  • Close-up of facade surface with clinker brick slips, residential and commercial building New centre Porz
    Close-up of clinker brick slips
    New centre Porz project, close-up with iridescent grey brick slips
    Enhancing the sculptural impression by using two different shades of grout

Construction sign

Country
Germany
City
Cologne
Year Completed
2022
Architect
JSWD Architekten, Cologne, DE
Owner
moderne stadt GmbH, urban development company, Cologne, DE
Applicator
BK Bauunternehmen e.K., Cologne, DE
Products
External wall insulation system (StoTherm Mineral), Brick slips (StoBrick, customised surface finish)
Photos
Guido Erbring, Cologne, DE; Bernhard Fischer, Wickede, DE / Construction site photos: Dörthe Boxberg, Cologne, DE; Daniel Poštrak, Cologne, DE

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19 valuable project [insights] pages about the revitalisation of Cologne Porz city centre. Find out everything – from design to construction, to comprehensive detailed solutions.

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