The high-quality and contemporary concept for the Stephani Ost complex is designed to set the tone for the overall Überseeinsel development, where the old port is being reimagined as a vibrant neighborhood featuring residential, commercial and recreational spaces. The characteristic coexistence of modern and historical use in the area is reflected by the draft of the complex.

Our design takes the inherent characteristics of the urban environment and builds on them resolutely, carefully crafting the buildings within the planning guidelines. All five are inspired by the traditional warehouses from the site’s former incarnation and the layout of the buildings in the typical fashion of Bremen row houses. The dialogue between industrial and regional architecture continues in the critical reinterpretation of the façade design. The grid pattern evokes an industrial vernacular. Windows, recessed loggias, protruding bays and French balconies identify the complex as a residential property. All of the elements are based on the typological architecture of Bremen and modified as needed to meet the requirements of modern, open plan floorplans. With a different façade for each building, and therefore each apartment, the residents all have their own private outdoor spaces. The loggias are fully enclosed to minimize exposure to the prevailing winds and equipped with fully retractable glazing for clement weather.

We made a conscious choice to clad the buildings with ceramic tiles, as the construction technique used here would have only allowed for a very thin layer of brick cladding. The ceramic tiles we selected have the same shape and size as traditional bricks but are non-traditional in that they can be installed without bonding. Each house is clad in its own individual blue and green shade that harmonizes with the colors of the Weser River, and the tiles’ glittery sheen casts reflections on the water during the evening hours. All of the structures are built with hybrid timber-concrete construction as recommended in the development plan, providing occupants a long-term, robust and therefore sustainable use of the buildings.