Competition Auenquartier an der Ilm Pfaffenhofen

FROM THE JURY REPORT:

"The approach of this design takes up the elements of the preliminary urban planning and modifies them to a spatially and creatively more cohesive structural figure. A positive aspect is the successful attempt to do without any kind of additive noise protection walls. The positioning of the fourth point building as the north-western end of the row of buildings on the Ilm is seen positively, especially as a prelude to Schrobenhausener Strasse. It enables a stronger opening of the joints towards the floodplain to the west. This increases the quality of living within the point development and also improves the transparency for the houses behind.

The overall polygonal design of the buildings and façades increases the respective quality in the orientation of the flats. The integration of the overall figure through differently shaped but related typologies is seen positively; the scale of both the height and width of the corner building is discussed controversially. Here, the clear exceeding of the specified floor area becomes a disadvantage in terms of urban space. The development of the respective buildings from the public space is welcomed as correct.

The development of the point buildings is also logically comprehensible via the inner main axis. The loose building arrangement creates a generous open space with good potential for use. The open-space entrances to the neighbourhood are successful and ensure a natural arrival and passage. The allocation of private open spaces is well done, but it does spatially restrict the communal use in the south. The use of the lower attic levels is perceived as an attractive and appropriate offer. The architectural concept of diversity in unity is seen positively; the cohesion through material and colour is clearly recognisable.

The attempt to create identity and atmosphere through expressive plasticity is appreciated, but this aspect is overemphasised in some areas and also raises economic questions. The appearance of the administration building is discussed very controversially, especially the question of the appropriateness of the urban scale and the high proportion of glass.

The floor plans of the flats on Schrobenhausener and Münchnerstraße make an attempt to develop a spatial quality beyond mere soundproofing. This is accepted, but the result is not unanimously positive. The west-facing flats of the south-facing Stange are successful. The flat mix tends to be somewhat too large, but overall a good mix has been achieved here. The flats in the point buildings benefit greatly from the polygonal basic geometry, but in some cases special rooms are created here.

The façades of the residential buildings are pleasantly restrained in design; the complexity of the structures takes on the main role here. The construction with solid exterior walls with directly applied plaster avoids an ETICS and thus obtains a sustainable durability, especially in the area of later maintenance and care of the building. The two-part design of the underground garage appears uneconomical, but is advantageous for the tree locations and infiltration. Sound insulation has been largely solved. One of the buildings is moved towards Schrobenhausener Straße and is therefore more exposed to noise. The gap between this point building and the Riegel will bring noise into the area. On the positive side, each flat has a quiet outdoor area thanks to the interspersed floor plans. Bedrooms in the hazardous area can be ventilated via a glazed loggia. Additional noise protection is necessary for the bedrooms in the southern wing facing the B13. The design provides for large glass surfaces on facades exposed to noise. This places high demands on sound insulation. There are also high requirements for the additional window in the bedrooms in the health-endangering area (fixed glazing may be necessary).

No statements are made about a further-reaching energy concept. All in all, an extraordinary design with special exterior qualities, but the appearance of the corner building is too striking and goes beyond the scale to be expected at this location. High construction and management costs are to be expected for the strongly articulated façades and amorphous ground plan structures, which do not justify the possible advantages of the strong variety. Overall, this work represents an identity-creating and enriching contribution to this brief."