SOINI ASSET has created high-quality living space on the site of the former customs criminal investigation bureau with the 55 Frames development. The project brings the advantages of living in a small urban district to Cologne’s city center. It is the first privately financed downtown densification project to follow the blueprint of Albert Speer’s master plan. The facade features framed balconies that draw the eye to the design.
The 55 Frames development was initially part of an architectural design competition. The general concept submitted by Cologne-based architect firm, Boris Enning Architekt BDA Stadtplaner, won the jury over. “In addition to extraordinary architecture and custom space, the development also boasts an environment based on ingenuity, featuring contemporary mobility that includes e-bike charging stations, a car-sharing project, housekeeping and modern energy management,” explains Boris Enning, who was unanimously selected by the jury. The result is an amazing urban space at the heart of Cologne’s city center that provides high-end living with the local feel of a small urban district. The impressive facade is an excellent representation of the overall architectural design. The accents created by the framed balconies made of exposed concrete and held in place by wall panels with the help of the Schöck Isokorb Typ WXT insulation is entirely unique.
Günter Berlo, real estate expert at SOINI ASSET and experienced market observer, decided to purchase an apartment at the development during the construction phase.
“I’m a city person and really like living in a place where there’s a lot going on while still being able to enjoy peace and quiet.” A major challenge of the project was taking the central location along one of the city’s busiest roads and creating a space of privacy and tranquility. The Boris Enning architectural firm designed two compact yet permeable residential blocks with quiet interior courtyards on the 4,162 sqm corner lot. The buildings are connected by numerous paths, creating a semi-public space. The architect’s solution to the traffic and noise situation near the property was to have residents access the apartments via landscaped arcades, which bring light into the space, and a protected landscaped interior courtyard. The design has created oasis of calm right in the heart of the vibrant Rhine metropolis. “I’m now friends with many of the owners.”
Günter Berlo, Berlo Real GmbH
“Framed exposed concrete balconies give the facade a unique look”
Allgemeine Bau Zeitung, “Urban residential development” July 2018
Residential
55 Frames Cologne
Cologne
81 residential units
Property developer, shareholder, financial investor, individual unit sales.
28. March 2023
