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Revitalisation in the heart of Cologne's Porz district

Reduced and reinterpreted with brick slips

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 renewal 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 Architects were responsible for the urban planning, design and realisation of House 1. The facade surfaces of the residential and commercial building are a reference to the surrounding brick buildings.

Jürgen Steffens

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

... from the status quo:
‘It's impossible to imagine that today. It used to be a no-man's land.’

... to the creation of a modern, vibrant urban district:
"The way this was done, as a democratic process, with citizen participation, political participation – throughout the entire course of the project: not only the urban development, but also the architecture and the outdoor facilities: I would say that this is sustainable urban development.’

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.

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Successful urban renewal

‘From a housing perspective, the concept has been a complete success. This is evident from the fact that all units are fully let, and not just because of the housing shortage. The development has appealed to families of various sizes, bringing a certain liveliness to the 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.

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

    House 1 offers 39 flats 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 the block

    A planning team consisting of representatives from Cologne's ‘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 department store ruins and build three new city blocks.

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

    After the demolition of the department store ruins, the distribution structure for all underground car parks in the overall project was first constructed according to plans by JSWD. This was followed by the construction of the buildings, with three different offices responsible for the design and implementation of the structures. Photo: © Daniel Poštrak, Cologne, DE

  • New Centre Porz Project: Site plan

    Following the demolition of the vacant Hertie department store in Porz, a district centre was created consisting of three block buildings that 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 district centre was to eliminate vacant properties and large-scale blockages in the urban space, restructure walking and sightlines in the pedestrian zone, and strengthen the location through a mix of residential and retail properties

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

    The mix of retail, residential and community facilities is intended to create a lively, urban neighbourhood.

  • Projekt Neue Mitte Porz, Konstruktion, Baustellenbild
    Konstruktion

    Massivbau mit gedämmter Hülle
    Die Gebäude des neuen Stadtblocks wurden als massive Konstruktion aus Stahlbeton errichtet, der vor Ort gegossen wurde. Ein robustes, mineralisches Fassadendämmsystem mit

  • Baustellenbild Wohn-und Geschäftshaus Neue Mitte Porz, Fassadenecke gedämmt mit WDVS von Sto
    Stahlbetonwände mit WDVS

    Für die Wärmedämmung der Gebäude wurde ein Sto-Fassadendämmsystem mit 20 cm und im Bereich der Rücksprünge mit 10 cm Steinwolledämmung gewählt.

  • Projekt Neue Mitte Köln, Closeup Haus 1 mit StoBrick Klinkerriemchen auf WDVS
    Homogene Fassadenoberfläche

    Der mehrschichtige Fassadenaufbau schließt mit einer homogenen Oberfläche aus grau changierenden Klinkerriemchen nach außen ab.

  • Wohn- und Geschäftshaus Neue Mitte Porz, Closup Fassade mit StoBrick Klinkerriemchen auf WDVS
    Grau changierende Klinkerriemchen

    Haus 1 ist allseitig mit Klinkerriemchen verkleidet, deren grau changierende Farbgebung eine moderne Interpretation eines klassischen Klinkers darstellen. Für den Fugenmörtel wurden zwei verschiedeneFarbtöne verwendet, um Vor- und Rücksprünge in der Fassade optisch stärker voneinander abzusetzen.

  • Klinker, neu interpretiert

    Fassade mit Tiefenwirkung

    Das Planungsteam wünschte sich eine homogene, ruhige Fläche, mit einer sanften Struktur. Das konnte mit dem StoBrick-Stein erfüllt werden, der eine gewisse Unebenheit hat.

    Die hellen Keramikmodule bilden eine robuste und gestalterisch anspruchsvolle Oberfläche. Je nach Blickwinkel und Tageszeit ändert sich die Ansicht der teils dreidimensionalen Fläche. Einen Effekt mit Tiefenwirkung erhält die Fassade durch die zwei verschieden starke Dämmschichten, die für unterschiedliche Ebenen in der Fassadenfläche sorgen.

     

    Wohn- und Geschäftsgebäude Neue Mitte Porz, Closeup Klinkerfassade von Sto
    Foto: © Guido Erbring, Köln, DE
  • Closeup Fassadenfläche mit Klinkerriemchen, Wohn- und Geschäftshaus Neue MItte Porz
    Closeup Klinkerriemchen: Fuge und Stein wurden in der Farbgebung aneinander angepasst
    Projekt Neue Mitte Porz, Closup mit grau changierenden Klinkerriemchen
    Grau changierende Klinkerriemchen

Construction sign

Country
Germany
City
Cologne
Year Completed
2022
Architect
JSWD Architekten, Cologne, DE
Owner
moderne stadt, Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft, Cologne, DE
Applicator
BK Bauunternehmen e.K., Cologne, DE
Products
External wall insulation system (StoTherm Vario), Brick slipas (StoBrick)
Photos
Guido Erbring, Cologne, DE Bernhard Fischer Luftfotografie, Wickede, DE Christa Lachenmaier, 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.

Request your Case Study
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